What we do - behind the scenes

WORKFLOW FOR PRESERVATION

This is the main workflow for preservation; writing the

data onto the film. It consists of the following steps:

Transferring the data

Data owners upload their digital data through their

own document management solution or directly to a

secure file-sharing document platform. The Piql solution

supports different protocols (FTS, SFTP, HTTP, file

share and web services) for control and data commu-

nication, allowing integration with any document man-

agement system. Piql will integrate with solutions like

Archivematica

, a digital preservation system that

allows to process digital files before recording on film

in compliance with the ISO 14721:2003 certified OAIS

reference model. Archivematica uses best practice

preservation metadata standards and simplifies file

format normalization (to proper archival file formats).

Data integrity

The quality-check of the data integrity aims at pre-

venting unintentional changes to information and

ensures the data is recorded and retrieved exactly as

intended. Before printing the data, Forward Error

Correction (FEC) techniques and checksums are used to

make sure the accuracy and authenticity of the data is

kept during the entire preservation process.

After the file is received, checked for virus and nor-

malized to a preservation file format, a checksum is

generated for the file, sent back to the data owner for

verification and saved in the Piql database for future

verification. Then the file is decoded and split into small

elements of information (binary form) that fits into a

frame on the film reel. For each frame to be recorded

another checksum is generated and added to the data

frame, then sent to the data recorder. Before recording,

each frame checksum is verified to assure data integrity

during transmission.

Data writing

When the reel has

been virtually created

as a set of recordable

images (frames), the reel

is written onto film by

the piqlWriter.

PiqlWriter is a high-speed industrial grade data re-

corder writing at 40 MB/s. When the operator

has loaded film and closed the cover, the

writing starts automatically. The solution uses piql-

Film, a high-resolution photosensitive film specially

designed for longevity and high density digital writing.

After the reel has been written, the operator puts the

film in a developer cartridge ready for processing. Piql-

Writer requires dark-room conditions only during load-

ing and unloading of film.

Digital data frame. Magnified section to the right.

Frames of data on a film reel.