Format transformations, GIFs and Autodesk?

[Petter Reinholdtsen]

Hi.

Looking at slide 28 on
<URL: http://edu.hioa.no/ark2100/current/slides/week4/day1/Measuring%20data%20quality%20within%20a%20Noark%20perspective.odp >,
it seem to list the source and archive format in use somewhere.

Thomas, what is the source of these numbers?

Looking at the table, it occured to me that the GIF -> RA-JPEG
transformation would be loosing the animations GIFs are used for these
days.  Anyone know why GIF is not allowed into the archive?  Perhaps
someone should suggest allowing it to Arkivverket, to avoid loosing
information?  The GIF 89a spec can be found on
<URL: https://www.w3.org/Graphics/GIF/spec-gif89a.txt >.

Another thing that occured to me is that transforming the 3D models from
Autodesk (DWF, DWG, DXF) into PDF is a sure way to loose valuable
information.  The Autodesk formats are not open standards, and being
able to preserve them for a long time seem unlikely.  Unfortunately I do
not know the 3D format landscape enough to propose a better archive
format.  I know of VRML, but there are few programs using that format.
I found CityGML, but do not know its open standard status.  I guess
converting 3D models to VRML and keeping the original file around is way
better option than converting them to a flat rendering in PDF form.  At
least it give the people of the future a chance to get some access to
the 3D model even without proprietary software that no longer work 1000
years from now.

-- 
Happy hacking
Petter Reinholdtsen