AFIS (archival scientific information system)

Contact

Frank Schwichtenberg

Head e-Humanities

Phone

+49 7247 808 262

frank.schwichtenberg [at] fiz-karlsruhe.de

Project data

In this project, FIZ Karlsruhe and the State Archives of Baden-Württemberg (LABW) are developing a new and modern archival scientific information system (AFIS), i.e., a special software for archives that supports the following specialized tasks:

Transfer of new records into the archive
indexing
storage management
Reproduction management
Provision for use
Further fields of work such as conservation/restoration management, including damage assessment, advice to authorities, etc.

The AFIS currently in use at the LABW consists of heterogeneous, evolved components and no longer meets the requirements of a contemporary and forward-looking research infrastructure and the increased demands on information security. The new development is intended to modernize the core applications for indexing, administration, and online presentation of archival materials in a way that clearly outperforms all systems available on the market.

The goal is to incorporate current technologies, some of which are still experimental, in all areas (Linked Open Data, machine learning, knowledge graphs, (partially) automated indexing support). The new AFIS is intended to meet the increased demands of scientists for discoverable, accessible and re-usable research data (in accordance with the FAIR principles) and to provide innovative functions such as a "(protected) virtual reading room" for digitized and digital archive material, integration of user-generated content and a geoinformation system.

AFIS is based on the results of the EEZU project, into which, reciprocally, functions from the AFIS development will be incorporated.

The goal is not only to use AFIS by the LABW, but also to offer it as open source and as a hosted service (in the sense of Software as a Service, SaaS) for other archives in Baden-Württemberg and Germany, in order to improve both the availability of archival information and the quality and depth of its development, and thus to better support research within Germany and at an international level.

The project is being implemented within the framework of a PPP (public-public partnership) with own funds from LABW and FIZ Karlsruhe.