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Integrated Archaeological Database
The Integrated Archaeological Database system, or IADB for short, is designed to address the data management requirements throughout the lifespan of archaeological excavation projects, from initial excavation recording, through post-excavation analysis and research to eventual dissemination and archiving.Key Features
The Integrated Archaeological Database (IADB) has developed over many years. In the late eighties, Steve Stead and Pete Clark, then both at the Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust (SUAT) in Perth, Scotland (archaeological services in Perth are now provided by Alder Archaeology) started developing the concept of a computerised integrated database to record and help with the analysis of several large excavation projects on which SUAT was working at the time. When Mike Rains took over from Steve Stead at SUAT in 1989, he realised that some of the software development projects on which he had been working, initially at Durham University and then at the Scottish Development Department (later to become Historic Scotland), could together form the basis for starting to implement the IADB concept. These included a simple stratigraphic analysis program, a basic Context and Find cataloging application and an early attempt at a single context plan digitising solution. The original concept of the IADB was to make available digital versions of the various excavation records as an easily accessible integrated resource for use in post-excavation analysis and to provide a framework within which that analysis would be undertaken. Initially, the IADB only dealt with simple artefact records and stratigraphic unit or context records. Over time, the scope of the IADB has widened to include other digital resources including single context plans, photographs, stratigraphy diagrams, etc. Initially the IADB was described as a "digital workbench" or a "computerised desktop", today we would probably call it a virtual research environment. Early versions of the IADB ran under MS-DOS and were written in Clipper and C using the dBase database format. Vector graphics used the GEM graphics library, a precursor to Windows. With the launch of Visual Basic, the IADB was moved to Windows using an MS Access database. In 1997, Mike Rains moved from SUAT to York Archaeological Trust and shortly afterwards the IADB programs were re-written in Delphi, still using an Access database. In 1999 work was begun on converting the IADB to a web application using MySQL and PHP. In recent years, development has continued in collaboration with Amanda Clarke and Mike Fulford of the Silchester Town Life Project at Reading University. Grants from the AHRC have funded the development of the IADB as a web publication tool, and a grant from the JISC is currently funding the VERA project for the development of the IADB as a Virtual Research Environment for archaeology using the Silchester project as a test-bed. In September 2005, an edition of the BBC Radio 4 programme The Material World featured an interview with Mike Fulford and Mike Rains in which they discussed the role of the IADB in the Silchester project with particular reference to the development of the IADB as a virtual research environment. As of August 2009, this programme remains available online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/thematerialworld_20050922.shtml. Latest Developments Development of the IADB is an on-going process. Recent development work has concentrated on the following:
Who is Using the IADB Current users of the IADB include:
IADB Demonstration The links below provide access to two trial versions of the IADB each containing a small demonstration project. The first provides read-only access and you can access this immediately by clicking on the link below and logging in using the user name GUEST and the password GUEST. However, the IADB is designed very much as an active working environment rather than as a passive resource, and so read-only access does not really allow you to explore the full potential of the system. If you would like unrestricted access to a fully working trial version of the IADB, please contact Mike Rains to obtain a username and password. Please mention the nature of your interest in the IADB. Please note: The IADB is designed to be used with the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Most parts will also work in other browsers including Google Chrome, Safari, Opera and Internet Explorer, but you may experience some problems using these. Firefox is available free of charge for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux from http://www.getfirefox.com. The IADB uses cookies, JavaScript and pop-up windows, so all of these need to be enabled within your browser. Please remember that this is a demonstration only server with limited bandwidth - do not expect the same performance as you would get from the main IADB server, or your own private server.
System Requirements If you are interested in using the IADB, then there are two routes open to you:
Costs The IADB is open source software which means, amongst other things, that there is no charge for the actual software, whether to install on your own server or when used centrally via the hosting option. YAT will make a daily (or pro-rata) charge plus expenses for all work undertaken to help you set up or maintain your own IADB server, any customisation of the program, and user training, at least a couple of days of which would normally be required under either the own server or hosted option. YAT's current rate (July 2009) is GBP 275 plus VAT per day, plus expenses. Under the hosting option, YAT will make an additional charge for data storage. This will normally be GBP 50 plus VAT per calendar month, payable quarterly in advance. This charge remains the same regardless of how many Users or Projects you create within your database, but a higher charge may need to be negotiated if your database grows very large! These charges will be reviewed in April each year and YAT reserves the right to increase them in line with inflation. YAT currently makes no charge for basic telephone and email support for the IADB provided that all support requests are channelled through a single contact individual within each organisation using the IADB and, in the case of independent IADB servers, YAT has remote access to the server via HTTP and FTP. Support is only provided during normal business hours, is offered on a "best effort" basis, and is not guaranteed in any way. As the number of IADB users increases, YAT may need to reconsider its support policy, in which case all users will be consulted. Further Information If after reading these notes and possibly looking at the demo you would like any further information about the IADB or would like to arrange a 'test run' for your organisation, please contact Mike Rains. |