Title: Long-term archiving of digital data on microfilm

Authors: Steffen W. Schilke, Andreas Rauber

Addresses: Gemeinsame IT-Stelle der hessischen Justiz, Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 28, D-61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany; Postal Address - Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main, D-60256 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. ' Department of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Vienna University of Technology Favoritenstr., 9-11/188, A-1040 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: E-government applications have to archive data or documents for long retention periods of 100 years or more. This requires to store digital data on stable media, and to ensure that the file formats can be read by available software. Both applications as well as media technology have only short life spans. Thus, data has to be migrated at frequent intervals onto new data carriers and to new file formats. However, original file versions usually need to be retained permanently. In terms of cost, stability and technology independence, microfilm storage offers a promising solution for off-line storage. This paper reports on a feasibility study analysing encoding techniques that allow digital data to be saved onto microfilm, testing data recovery as well as cost issues.

Keywords: bit-stream preservation; long-term storage; archiving; digital data; microfilm; archives; microfilming; e-government; electronic government; documents; retention periods; stable media; stability; file formats; available software; compatibility; media technology; life spans; data migration; data carriers; original files; permanent retention; cost; technology independence; off-line storage; encoding techniques; data recovery; electronic governance; e-governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2010.036900

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.237 - 253

Received: 30 Jun 2009
Accepted: 25 Feb 2010
Published online: 15 Nov 2010 *

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