This document provides guidance on questions to consider when developing a technical plan or data management plan for a research funding application. It covers four sections: (1) digital outputs and technologies used in the project; (2) technical methodology including standards, formats, hardware/software, and data processing; (3) technical support and experience; and (4) preservation, sustainability and access including preservation methods, continued access, and intellectual property considerations. The questions aim to ensure digital outputs are well-planned, fit-for-purpose, and preserved/accessible after the project ends.
1. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER KAPTUR RDM TRAINING 16.01.13
Based upon AHRC Guidance available online: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-
Opportunities/Research-funding/RFG/Application-guidance/Pages/Technical-Plan.aspx
Disclaimer: AHRC applicants are advised to read and follow the AHRC Guidance. The following
hand-out has been produced for the purposes of this training session looking at Data Management
Planning as questions arising out of the AHRC Technical Plan are relevant to DMPs more widely.
Section 1: Summary of Digital Outputs and Digital Technologies
Define the digital outputs and/or digital technologies that will be used in this project.
Why have they been chosen?
Describe any source data or content.
How will the outputs be used or the technologies function?
How do they relate to the research questions?
What type of access is envisaged?
Section 2: Technical Methodology
2a: Standards and Formats
What file formats will be used and why? State if different file formats will be used for
dissemination and preservation e.g. low resolution JPEGs for Web delivery and high
resolution TIFF v.6 for preservation.
State number of files and estimated file sizes.
What standards will be used by the project e.g. metadata schema, controlled vocabulary,
Web standards for website creation?
2b: Hardware and Software
This section relates to hardware or software that is "additional or exceptional to
conventional desk-based research and institutional provision"; state if not applicable.
Ensure that hardware and software selected is fit-for-purpose, for example if you need to
obtain high quality archival images then a suitable camera specification is required,
likewise commonly available software such as Microsoft Office Picture Manager may
need to be replaced by professional standard image editing software such as Adobe
Photoshop - depending upon the project requirements and processes.
2c: Data Acquisition, Processing, Analysis and Use
"This section needs to relate to the timetable and milestones given in the Case for
Support as well as the project's overall research methodology."
Outline the project workflow, for example if the process is digitisation it may follow a
workflow like: select materials for digitisation → prepare materials for digitisation →
digitise → add image metadata during image processing → transfer low resolution copy
of the images to the database and add additional metadata → quality check
images/metadata → publish online (each of these steps with a series of tasks)
What back-up procedures will be in place to safeguard the data? During work 'in the field'
as well as 'in the office'?
2. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER KAPTUR RDM TRAINING 16.01.13
Based upon AHRC Guidance available online: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-
Opportunities/Research-funding/RFG/Application-guidance/Pages/Technical-Plan.aspx
Disclaimer: AHRC applicants are advised to read and follow the AHRC Guidance. The following
hand-out has been produced for the purposes of this training session looking at Data Management
Planning as questions arising out of the AHRC Technical Plan are relevant to DMPs more widely.
Section 3: Technical Support and Relevant Experience
Consider project team roles and technical expertise; outsource technical support if
required or ensure appropriate training will be received within the project timescale.
Consult with the institution's IT Department prior to the application being submitted to
AHRC to ensure that appropriate support can be provided e.g. back-ups, server space.
Consider any risks to the project from lack of technical support.
Section 4: Preservation, Sustainability and Use
If outputs produced are not suitable for preservation explain why here. This may relate to
the research methodology, issues with the cost of preservation, or the significance of
different digital outputs to the research outcomes.
"The AHRC normally expects digital outputs that are preserved and/or sustained to be
freely available to the research community."
4a: Preserving Your Data
The AHRC normally require outputs to be made available for a minimum period of three
years after the end of the funding.
The AHRC state: "You must consider preservation in four ways: what, where, how and
for how long. You must also consider any institutional support needed in order to carry
out these plans, whether from an individual, facility, organisation or service."
4b: Ensuring Continued Access and Use of Your Digital Outputs
The AHRC define sustainability as digital outputs that are "publicly accessible and
usable" - for "on-line resources this means keeping the full on-line system working".
This point also relates to the Dissemination section in the Case for Support and the
Pathways to Impact section - what impact will your digital outputs have by being made
openly and publicly accessible online?
Intellectual Property, copyright, and/or ethical considerations may define the limits of
sustainability or access. (More detail on Copyright is required in the section in the Case
for Support.)
How will the resource be supported after the end of the project funding? Is institutional
support available? Will the content require updating? Will the technical system require
updating/maintenance/bug fixes? What costs are expected?