OpenInfRA - A Web-based Information System for Documentation and Publication of Archaeological Research Projects.

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Klaus Rheidt; Professor Dr.-Ing. Ingo Schmitt
• Subject Area: Geophysics ; History of Science
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189775262

In the context of archaeological research projects, involving various historical and neighboring scientific disciplines, usually large amounts of data are produced or collated - nowadays typically in digital form. Often, these data are not saved and published in a sustainable manner and usually not linked with other research data. Thus, an open source web-based information system will be developed for the use in archaeological sciences and building research, that implements relevant technical and domain specific standards. It will be freely available for projects at universities, museums, academies and other national institutions as well as for joint research projects with international cooperation partners. OpenInfRA is to be understood as a central component in a working process by which a comprehensive and sustainable long-term documentation of primary data must be assured. It will consider a wide range of working methods and subjects, such as excavations, surveys, building documentation, drilling cores, geophysics, surveying and restoration. To facilitate cross-project analysis of research data, OpenInfRA on the one hand focuses on a structured and consistent data model, but on the other hand it can be adapted individually according to specific project requirements. A high degree of interoperability will be achieved by providing extensive search and retrieval functions and the integration of external resources and applications. New features for processing, analyzing and presenting 2D and 3D geo-data are being developed to better represent spatial relationships by integrating web-based GIS functionality. OpenInfRA offers the possibility for instant digital publication of comprehensive data and allows for user discussions and annotations of this data. Along with its integrated multilingualism for data and interfaces, it facilitates and promotes the time- and locationindependent collaboration of scientists as well as new forms of discourse in archeology. The research project does not only consider technical aspects but also ensures sustainable long term availability by providing an operational concept. It disencumbers the participating research projects and frees them to focus on the subject matter rather than spending resources on the setup of a project specific IT infrastructure. Eventually, OpenInfRA is aiming to be a key element of a research data infrastructure in the domain of archaeology.

• DFG Programme: Research data and software (Scientific Library Services and Information Systems)
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Schwarzbach