Projects

STERNA

STERNA: Semantic Web-based Thematic European Reference Network Application
STERNA has the objective of supporting the aim of the European Digital Library by pionerring the integration of semantically enriched digital resources in the field of natural sciences and history. STERNA (Semantic Web-based Thematic European Reference Network Application) is a Best Practice Network project supporting the objectives of the European Digital Library by pioneering the integration of semantically enriched digital resources in the field of natural sciences and history. The network comprises of 12 multi-media content providers from 9 European countries. Much of the content belongs to the thematic field of bio-diversity and is thus well suited for different usage scenarios, ranging from preservation to research, education and broadcasting, including significant practical issues such as IPR. Several of the institutions also have considerable technical and methodological expertise with digitised resources. They are supported by two experienced research and technology providers - one research organisation as coordinator and one commercial firm as the provider of the core technology which was originally developed in national and European projects. The consortium has the technical, methodological and content-related resources to demonstrate a European roll-out of novel access paradigms to eContent assets. The approach is based on "reference structures", a pragmatic yet principled approach to using semantic web techniques for connecting heterogeneous data from different content providers, while leaving local organisational and data processing environments intact. The work plan identifies several well-defined target user groups both on the supply and the demand sides of eContent. The new techniques will demonstrate how cultural assets can be re-contextualised, how value can be added not only by experts but also by the interested public, and there will be measurable outcomes: (1) a theme-oriented European semantically rich information space; (2) a methodology for content enrichment; (3) guidelines for implementing the STERNA architecture; (4) partnership agreements for new partners to join the network; (5) an extension plan for further European roll-out; (6) a road show in Europe to demonstrate the system; (7) a cooperation agreement with the European Digital Library to ensure sustainability of the digital resources in a federation of contributors.

Principal investigator:

Dates:

2008 2010

Museum staff:

External collaborators:

SALZBURG RESEARCH FORSCHUNGSGESELLSCHAFT M.B.H. AUSTRIA
MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE BELGIUM
MOUSEIO FYSIKIS ISTORIAS STO DIMO AMAROUSSIOU GREECE
ARCHIPELAGOS AIGAIOU ASTIKI ETAIREIA GREECE
MAGYAR TERMESZETTUDOMANYI MUZEUM HUNGARY
NATTURUFRAEDISTOFNUN ISLANDS ICELAND
MUSEE NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE LUXEMBOURG
HERITAGE MALTA MALTA
DRUSTVO ZA OPAZOVANJE IN PROUCEVANJE PTIC SLOVENIJE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA
STICHTING TOT BEHEER EN INSTANDHOUDING VAN TEYLERS MUSEUM THE NETHERLANDS
STICHTING NEDERLANDS INSTITUUT VOOR BEELD EN GELUID THE NETHERLANDS
STICHTING NATIONAAL NATUURHISTORISCH MUSEUM NATURALIS THE NETHERLANDS
WILDSCREEN UNITED KINGDOM