In this presentation, Hugues Cazeaux, head of the IT department at the University of Geneva with over 25 years of experience, addresses the issue of digital preservation within the institution.
To structure his presentation, he proposes three main parts that allow for a progressive exploration of the issues and solutions implemented at the University of Geneva.
1. The DLCM project: a progressive approach to archiving
The first part is devoted to the DLCM (Data Life Cycle Management) project, a national programme funded by Swiss Universities and deployed over six years in three successive phases:
- Phase 1 (2015-2018): Evaluation of open source solutions adapted to archiving and data management needs.
- Phase 2 (2018-2020): Development and implementation of DLCM solutions, leading to the creation of a new service.
- Phase 3 (2021): Launch of OLOS, a SaaS solution dedicated to small institutions without an archiving service, offering them an efficient way to store and structure their data.
2. The impact of legislative developments on archiving
The second part of the presentation deals with the draft laws that have influenced storage infrastructures and associated services. The objective was to optimise access to and use of research data within the Geneva universities. This project, approved in 2017, was rolled out over a period of seven years.
3. Yareta: a digital archiving solution
A significant part of the presentation is dedicated to Yareta, a digital repository based on open source technologies and implemented in 2019. Today, it has more than 1,000 archives created and more than 15 TB of data stored.
The development of Yareta has been based on the progress of the DLCM project and funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). In March 2024, the solution obtained CTS (Core Trust Seal) certification, guaranteeing its compliance with best practices in digital archiving.
Yareta’s strategy is based on maximum accessibility, with the motto:
‘As open as possible, as closed as necessary’, in favour of the open access principle.
4. Administrative and heritage archiving: meeting specific needs
Digital archiving is not just about research. Work has been carried out to identify and meet the conservation needs of administrative and heritage documents. The evaluation focused on several criteria:
- The archiving needs of the Rectorat
- The digitisation of academic archives
- The conservation of digitised documents
- The modernisation of archival collection cataloguing systems
5. Hedera: structuring data for the digital humanities
Launched in 2024, Hedera is part of an approach aimed at standardising and homogenising data related to the digital humanities.
This project is based on a structured process in several stages:
- Transformation of metadata into RDF (Resource Description Framework).
- Consolidation of data thanks to a common and shared ontology.
The objective is to make data and metadata more accessible to researchers and users, by facilitating their interoperability and exploitation.
The main challenge lies in the introduction of a new archiving format, intended to replace the old Isad(G) standard, in order to improve the structuring and sustainability of digital archives.
6. DNAMIC: digital archiving via DNA
Finally, the last part of the presentation focuses on the DNAMIC project, an innovative initiative that explores data archiving in DNA.
The idea is to develop a prototype to automate the encoding, storage and decoding of archives using a micro-factory and the advances of the DLCM project.
Why use DNA as a storage medium?
- It offers a high density of information in a small space.
- It can be stored at room temperature, thus reducing energy costs.
- It allows for replication capacity, ensuring long-term data preservation.
Through these initiatives, the University of Geneva is demonstrating its commitment to digital preservation, relying on innovative solutions tailored to the needs of research, administration and academic heritage.