Achieving interoperability between the CARARE schema for monuments and sites and the Europeana Data Model

Mapping between different data models in a data aggregation context always presents significant interoperability challenges. In this paper, we describe the challenges faced and solutions developed when mapping the CARARE schema designed for archaeological and architectural monuments and sites to the Europeana Data Model (EDM), a model based on Linked Data principles, for the purpose of integrating more than two million metadata records from national monument collections and databases across Europe into the Europeana digital library.Comment: The final version of this paper is openly published in the proceedings of the Dublin Core 2013 conference, see http://dcevents.dublincore.org/IntConf/dc-2013/paper/view/17

Innovation in Low Carbon Construction Technologies:An Historic Analysis for Obviating Defects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the risks of building defects associated with rapid advancement of “green” construction technologies. It identifies the methods adopted by the sector for the determination of pre-construction defects that are framed within the context of, traditional; scientific; and professional design approaches. These are critically evaluated and utilised in attempts to mitigate defects arising from diffusing low carbon construction innovations. Design/methodology/approach –The paper takes the formof an evaluative literature review. Polemic in orientation, the paper critically compares two periods of time associated with rapid advancement of innovation. The first, the post-Second World War housing boom is synonymous with a legacy of substandard buildings that in many cases rapidly deteriorated, requiring refurbishment or demolition shortly after construction. The second, is today’s “green” technology “shift” with its inherent uncertainty and increased risk of latent building defects and potential failure to deliver meaningful long-term performance. Central to this is an exploration of the drivers for innovation, and subsequent response, precautionary measures initiated, and the limitations of institutionalised systems to identify and mitigate defects. Similarities and differences between these historical periods frame a discussion around the theoretical approaches to defects and how these may be limited in contemporary low carbon construction. A conceptual framework is presented with the aim of enhancing the understanding for obviation of defects. Findings – Sufficient commonality exists between the periods to initiate a heightened vigilance in the identification, evaluation and ideally the obviation of defects. Design evaluation is not expressly or sufficiently defect focused. It appears that limited real change in the ability to identify defects has occurred since the post-war period and the ability to predict the performance of innovative systems and materials is therefore questionable. Attempts to appraise defects are still embedded in the three principle approaches: traditional; scientific; and professional design. Each of these systems have positive characteristics and address defect mitigation within constrains imposed by their very nature. However, they all fail to address the full spectrum of conditions and design and constructional complexities that lead to defects. The positive characteristics of each system need to be recognised and brought together in an holistic system that offers tangible advantages. Additionally, independent design professionals insufficiently emphasise the importance of defect identification and holistic evaluation of problems in design failure are influenced by their professional training and education. A silo-based mentality with fragmentation of professional responsibility debases the efficacy of defect identification, and failure to work in a meaningful, collaborative cross professional manner hinders the defect eradication process. Research limitations/implications – Whilst forming a meaningful contribution to stimulate debate, further investigation is required to tangibly establish integrated approaches to identify and obviate defects. Practical implications – The structured discussion and conclusions highlight areas of concern for industry practitioners, policy makers, regulators, industry researchers and academic researchers alike in addressing and realising a low carbon construction future. The lessons learned are not limited to a UK context and they have relevance internationally, particularly where rapid and significant growth is coupled with a need for carbon reduction and sustainable development such as the emerging economies in China, Brazil and India. Social implications – The carbon cost associated with addressing the consequences of emerging defects over time significantly jeopardises attempts to meet legally binding sustainability targets. This is a relatively new dimension and compounds the traditional economic and societal impacts of building failure. Clearly, blindly accepting this as “the cost of innovation without development” cannot be countenanced. Originality/value – Much research has been undertaken to evaluate post-construction defects. The protocols and inherent complexities associated with the determination of pre-construction defects have to date been largely neglected. This work attempts to rectify this situation

User-Centred Design to Support Exploration and Path Creation in Cultural Heritage Collections

In this paper, we present the results of the user requirements and interface design phase for a prototype system, designed to enhance interaction with cultural heritage collections online through means of a pathway metaphor. We present a single user interaction model that supports various work and information seeking tasks undertaken by both expert and non-expert users within the context of collection exploration and path creation. The user interaction model is shown to enable seamless movement between interaction modes, with the potential over time to encourage deeper engagement and learning

Arabidopsis uses two gluconeogenic gateways for organic acids to fuel seedling establishment.

Gluconeogenesis is a fundamental metabolic process that allows organisms to make sugars from non-carbohydrate stores such as lipids and protein. In eukaryotes only one gluconeogenic route has been described from organic acid intermediates and this relies on the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK). Here we show that two routes exist in Arabidopsis, and that the second uses pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK). Gluconeogenesis is critical to fuel the transition from seed to seedling. Arabidopsis pck1 and ppdk mutants are compromised in seed-storage reserve mobilization and seedling establishment. Radiolabelling studies show that PCK predominantly allows sugars to be made from dicarboxylic acids, which are products of lipid breakdown. However, PPDK also allows sugars to be made from pyruvate, which is a major product of protein breakdown. We propose that both routes have been evolutionarily conserved in plants because, while PCK expends less energy, PPDK is twice as efficient at recovering carbon from pyruvate.We thank the Biotechnology and Biology Sciences Research Council for funding J.M.H. (P18931 and a studentship to B.P.W.) and P.J.E. (BB/G009724/1 and BB/K002147/1), the Isaac Newton Trust and the Max-Planck Gesellschaft for funding and ATC for a CASE studentship to H.M.A.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150410/ncomms7659/full/ncomms7659.html

Getting it together on-line: HEIRNET and Internet-based resource discovery tools for the Historic Environment

This article looks at the possibilities, opportunities and the difficulties of bringing together content about the historic environment on the Internet. Based on the experiences of HEIRNET (the Historic Environment Information Resources Network - a network of organisations from across the heritage sector) it looks at initiatives that are exploring the evolution of an integrated information environment in which archaeologists might interact with resources drawn from different organisations. HEIRNET was formed in 1998 in recognition that increasing numbers of individuals and organisations are creating valuable information resources about different aspects of the historic environment and that both conservation managers and researchers faced difficulties in accessing these resources. HEIRNET has responded with a number of initiatives. The creation of an Internet-based register of historic environment information resources is intended to help users to discover potentially interesting resources and, by providing up-to-date contact details, to help people to make use of those resources. HEIRNET members have also been working together to explore the development of a web-portal for the historic environment - HEIRPORT. This portal exploits computer communications technology to enable users to carry out simultaneous searches of four geographically separate databases: the Archaeology Data Service, the National Monuments Record for Scotland, the Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network and the Portable Antiquities programme. This article looks at what is involved in developing these resources - the metadata, the communications protocols used and the importance of co-operation between individuals and communities

Digital Curator Vocational Education Europe: Kick off meeting report

A two-day kick-off meeting was held in London on 17th and 18th February 2011. The aim of the meeting was to: brief participants on the project concepts, work plan, financial and reporting provisions etc; gather preliminary information on backgrounds, trends and initiatives concerning the delivery of vocational training in digital curation; gather information on the status of vocational training from several countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, UK, Canada and USA); and to ascertain the state of the art in curriculum developmen

CARARE - D1.3 Annual Report 2010-2011 (Revision 1)

CARARE brings together a network of heritage agencies and organisations, archaeological museums and research institutions and specialist digital archives from all over Europe to establish an aggregation service for Europeana. The project’s main objectives are to: make digital content for Europe's unique archaeological monuments and historic sites available to Europeana’s users; establish tools and services to support and enable its network of partners to make their digital content interoperable with Europeana, and to share best practices; enable access to 3D and Virtual Reality content through Europeana; and establish the business model for sustainability. Summary of Activities During its first year, the CARARE project has been preparing and enabling the network for harvesting and aggregation of content for Europeana. Building good communications amongst the partner network began at the project kick-off meeting in Copenhagen. A survey helped develop understanding of the content held by CARARE partners and their technical situations. The project has successfully completed conceptual and technical work to establish the technical architecture of the aggregation services and a CARARE metadata schema; described in a set of technical deliverables published on the project website. Systems have been implemented and are being tested ready to support ingestion and mapping of metadata and their storage on the CARARE repository. Work has been underway to define a methodology for providing 3D and Virtual Reality content to Europeana. After analysis of the content available, Europeana’s requirements and user needs, CARARE has recommended 3D PDF as a publishing standard. CARARE has also completed a review of IPR issues in the content domain and an analysis of the sustainability issues relating to digital content as the first step in defining a sustainable business models for the aggregation service. The project is now moving into the next phase with content partners actively planning to make the first contents available for harvesting in 2011

D5.2 Project web environment

This deliverable presents a snapshot of the project web environment in July 2011. The project website http://www.digcur-education.org/eng was launched in month one of the project. The aim of this site is to provide information about the project to stakeholders and to related projects, as well as provide an Intranet for members of the project consortium. The website includes a ‘Join Us’ page to encourage interested parties to register as members of the DigCurV network, to receive the project newsletter or to follow the project on one of the social networks. Section 2 of this report provides a snapshot of the main public pages of the website. Section 3 describes the project presence on social networking sites including Twitter and Slideshare. Section 4 provides some initial statistics showing visits to the project website in the first six months of the project