Heritage Science Data Service
The Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS) is providing core digital research services as part of the RICHeS programme, the UK’s Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science.
Funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and developed by the Archaeology Data Service (ADS), HSDS will unlock potential for innovation in heritage science and conservation research and its capacity to understand, preserve, manage and engage with UK heritage.
What is HSDS?
The HSDS is dedicated to providing comprehensive digital research services that empower arts and humanities professionals, heritage and conservation experts and scientists.
It has achieved this through establishing:
- An accredited and FAIR digital repository that preserves and provides access to critical heritage science data, including provision for data from RICHeS collections and facilities investments and RICHeS Access Fund awardees.
- The HSDS Catalogue of Services; an easy-to-use resource allowing users to discover and access heritage science and conservation collections and facilities that are essential to their research.
- The HSDS Data Catalogue; a centralised resource to collate heritage science and conservation data collections from across the UK, making datasets findable and accessible for all users.
- A collaboration with STFC Hartree Centre to develop a suite of Virtual Research Environments (VREs) and software tools to allow researchers to access, visualise and analyse large-scale heritage science and conservation datasets.
- The HSDS Small Grants Programme, providing funding to enhance access to heritage science and conservation resources and develop tailored VRE applications and workflows with STFC Hartree.
Overall, the HSDS will foster skills development in digital research methodologies and strategic partnerships with leading heritage institutions and harness cutting-edge technology from the STFC Hartree Centre. HSDS aims to set new standards in research and digital innovation, strengthening its role in advancing heritage science preservation and understanding.
Find out more at the HSDS website.
Partners
The HSDS is an ambitious initiative developed and managed by the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) in collaboration with the STFC Hartree Centre and key UK heritage institutions.
They include, for input to service design, semantic standards and data provision, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, the British Museum, British Geological Survey, Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, The National Archives, The National Gallery, and Natural History Museum.
For user needs definition, service data collection and technical implementation, HSDS are partnered with National Heritage Science Forum, Manchester Metropolitan University, Flax & Teal and Kartography.
User Needs Research
The National Heritage Science Forum (NHSF) is undertaking a User Needs consultation on behalf of Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), as part of the RICHeS programme.
The research will test proposed elements of the HSDS during development to gain feedback from a wide range of users. It will explore general requirements for HSDS in terms of functionality and user experience, as well as developmental aspects around high performance computing facilities and Virtual Research Environments. The User Needs Consultation will be conducted by Manda Forster PhD MCIfA and Samantha Paul PhD MCIfA, both highly experienced professionals with expertise in user needs analysis, consultation, and sector surveys.