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Getting Assets Organized: Asset management’s need for metadata and its impact on standards for process management, file formats and metadata sources
| Author | Frank Chagoya |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Journal of Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems are continually impacting production and archiving processes. Post development of taxonomy and metadata schemas, sourcing metadata from various asset types and file formats pre and post ingestion has generated a new impact that is now being realized. There is a growing need to standardize how and more importantly where we source our metadata. Where better than from the actual files ingested to the system? |
| Editorial | How can we standardize the way we source metadata for DAM system ingestion? Frank Chagoya, DAM executive at Leo Burnett’s print management department, takes a look at the value of standardization of the asset ingest stage within a print production workflow. |
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If you build it, will they come? Not unless you make it so they want to!
| Author | Thom Remington |
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| Abstract | This paper discusses the differences between the DAM system and the DAM processes, focusing on the inertia faced when we try to implement something new. A new system may be an improvement, but we have to help people to understand what’s in it for them, which leads them to understand why they should learn to use it. |
| Editorial | What are the pain points between a DAM system and DAM processes? This entertaining piece on the human factor involved with the implementation of a DAM system includes lessons learned at DuPont. |
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Metadata standards: The DAM accelerator!
| Author | Dianne Kennedy |
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| Abstract | The cost of implementing a digital asset management system is never just the cost of the software and hardware. Often the far greater cost in time and dollars is developing an organizational scheme for the assets. But knowing how to leverage industry metadata standards can prove to be a real DAM accelerator! |
| Editorial | How can you best leverage industry metadata standards when implementing a DAM? This article explores how the use of existing industry-specific metadata standards can expedite the development of one’s own organizational scheme for digital assets. |
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Our digital heritage as source material to end-users: Collection of and access to net publications in The National Library of Norway
| Author | Kjerste Rustad |
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| Abstract | The National Library of Norway (NLN) is a multimedia knowledge center that offers its users source material on any media. This paper will deal with how the National Library according to the Norwegian Legal Deposit Act collects net publications, and how these documents might be made available as source material to end-users. A web archive consisting of millions of uniform resource locators collected over several years is a challenge when it comes to access. How does the end-user gain access to net publications in the Internet archive for purposes of research and documentation? The paper discusses possibilities of accessing the Internet archive, but also limitations set by the existing legislation. |
| Editorial | How do industry standards affect the production flow of a major multimedia knowledge center? This article presents an interesting look at the different resources and tools the National Library of Norway has employed to archive Internet materials in cooperation with the International Preservation Consortium (IIPC), and other industry groups. |
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Making metadata work in digital asset management and video game production
| Author | John Horodyski |
|---|---|
| Abstract | This article focuses on Journal of Digital Asset Management (DAM) and the metadata
used to support and strengthen the asset to which it is related. A DAM solution involves
both technical and human components, most notably the subjective understanding of
the rich media assets being used and the creation and application of metadata for those
assets. Making metadata work in DAM means investing in the construction of a
Metadata model, a container of descriptive elements about the assets, which enable users to search for and retrieve the assets needed for their work. The production
of video games will serve as the backdrop to this discussion; specifically, the unique
digital assets used in a game’s creation with some examples from Electronic Arts. Metadata must not be seen as a static indicator of knowledge, but rather as a fluid model that is always subject for review and for change in its ongoing support of the rich media digital assets in the DAM system. |
| Editorial | How can DAM become useful in the description, identification, and retrieval of digital assets? John Horodyski of Electronic Arts rounds out this issue with a paper on the challenges of working with metadata for different types of rich media assets; specifically, in the unique digital assets used in a videogame’s creation with some examples from Electronic Arts. |
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Developing a metadata strategy: A road map
| Author | Grace Agnew |
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| Abstract | This article discusses the issues and decisions involved in developing a metadata strategy, particularly in terms of selecting and implementing a metadata standard. Different metadata standards and metadata development communities illustrate the different strategies an organization can take. |
| Editorial | What decisions need to be made in the process of developing a metadata strategy? This article discusses the issues involved in developing a metadata strategy, particularly in terms of selecting and implementing a metadata standard. |
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Defining, maintaining and managing metadata standards
| Author | Carol Owens |
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| Abstract | Prospective buyers of MAM systems are taking unacceptable business risks if they do not clearly define their metadata requirements up front, and apply appropriate methods to ensure that the delivered solution meets those requirements. In addition, the subsequent data management approach must be tailored to meet the business needs on an appropriate scale to ensure that expected benefits are fully realized. |
| Editorial | What types of outputs, retrieval results, and reporting does your business operation require from a DAM system? This article stresses the importance of defining metadata requirements before implementing a DAM system. She notes that not all DAM systems manage metadata in an equally flexible manner. |
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The business realities of metadata: What really matters when it comes to operations and commercialization of assets
| Author | Pam Williams |
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| Abstract | Metadata is essential for a digital asset to have a viable “shelf-life” and future commercial value. It will also be key to the successful delivery of expected business efficiencies from the installation of a digital asset management system. This paper discusses the main operational metadata issues that need to be taken into account when either setting up a digital asset management system or analyzing an existing archive for potential commercialization. |
| Editorial | What operational metadata issues need to be taken into account when setting up a new DAM system? Pamela Williams contributes a cogent examination of the business requirements that digital asset management and, therefore, metadata must address. Rightly, she emphasizes the operational |
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Practicing strategic metadata management: Knowing your media and its market potential
| Author | Cindy Cunningham |
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| Abstract | Managing metadata for a digital asset management system (DAM) can be most effectively done if the DAM manager considers the market potential of the media and takes customer needs, company objectives, and industry practices into consideration when assigning appropriate metadata. The DAM manager should also guarantee search success for an image or other media object by developing a thesaurus, applying controlled vocabulary, and leveraging the underlying data structure. |
| Editorial | How can a DAM manager set up their system for greatest overall success? This article examines the expanded role of DAM managers and how the creation and maintenance of search-keyword vocabularies must reflect customer or end-user needs, corporate objectives, and industry conventions. |
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Developing a successful metadata schema
| Author | Chris Porter |
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| Abstract | Metadata is an important and highly valuable part of any digital asset management system. The metadata turns a digital file into an asset by allowing the digital file to be retrieved from the system, shared between users and reused by the business. Before you start to define the metadata model for your DAM system there are several key business decisions that need to be understood such as the purpose of your DAM system and the amount of time and money you are willing to spend on metadata capture. The timing of the model definition is critical to the overall success of the DAM system deployment and the model should continue to meet the changing needs of the business-users. |
| Editorial | What is the best way to create a sustainable metadata model? This article examines how to create a sustainable metadata model – when to start defining it and how to enhance it without incurring huge, unnecessary costs. |
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Building a keyword library for description of visual assets: Thesaurus basics
| Author | Donna Slawsky |
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| Abstract | Digital asset management (DAM) systems typically contain primarily visually rich files like photographic images, video, logos, line art, and illustrations. Since there is no text associated with visual assets, the keywords associated with them often determine whether users will be successful when searching for assets in the DAM system. A controlled vocabulary in the form of a thesaurus of keywords can be incorporated into a DAM to enable accurate retrieval of images. Concepts of photo description including “of-ness” and “about-ness” are introduced as well as the basic vocabulary and principles around thesaurus construction and maintenance. Applications for a DAM system in an organizational setting are presented. |
| Editorial | What is the key to a streamlined DAM for visually rich files? Donna Slawsky, a digital librarian and DAM consultant, presents an excellent, succinct paper on the importance of a controlled vocabulary and well-maintained thesaurus for keywords, to create consistency within context. This paper should prove to be an invaluable resource for digital librarians seeking to leverage digital assets. |
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MIC metadata strategies: Thinking beyond asset management
| Author | Jane D Johnson |
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| Abstract | This paper examines the metadata strategies of Moving Image Collections (MIC), a collaboration of the Library of Congress and the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA). MIC offers a union catalog, archive directory and informational resources about moving images and their preservation, through a portal structure delivering customized information to diverse constituencies. The paper discusses three key principles underlying MIC’s strategy and how they have been applied to meet the respective missions of the two co-sponsors. The key principles are promotion of standards, acceptance of diversity in collections and schemas, and the need to extend effective metadata use to all repositories. This visionary metadata strategy takes MIC’s functionalities beyond asset management. MIC creates a framework for collaborative community building and an R&D platform to explore issues of digital rights management, low-level indexing and the intersection of public and private sector goals, in an effort to advance the Library of Congress mission to preserve and educate. |
| Editorial | What are the metadata strategies behind several large moving image collections? This article represents a collaboration between the Library of Congress and the Association of Moving Image Archivists. Her paper “MIC metadata strategies: Thinking beyond asset management” covers key principles underlying strategy and takes a close look at the issues involved to ensure that the project is effective in meeting the goals of both public and private sector interests. |
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Expanding the system definitions and configurations (taxonomy and data structure)
| Author | Magan Arthur |
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| Abstract | This paper is part of a series of enterprise content management (ECM) best practices from ACG, an independent consulting group. The series provides practical tips and expert advice on topics covering planning, implementing, and improving enterprise content management systems and their components. This paper focuses on taxonomy and data structures. It is written from the point of view of the implementation team. It assumes you have some level of experience with the concept of metadata and taxonomies but it is not an academic study. This paper tries to be hands-on and intellectual only to the degree necessary to convey certain principles. It will provide links to resources, which may also target more academic audiences. |
| Editorial | What constitutes best practices for enterprise content management? This article, by a leading industry consulting group provides a look into the business case behind building solid enterprise metadata strategies. |
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First steps: XMP
| Author | Jason Bright |
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| Abstract | Extensible metadata platform (XMP) first step is a discussion of the importance and correctness of XMP and other rich document format-based technology. The article walks the reader through the motivation, evolution and hurdles in XMP. The paper also discusses how MediaBeacon R3volution addressed some of the hurdles and how strong the XMP standard will become. |
| Editorial | What is the importance of XMP to managing data? This article includes case studies from Media Beacon’s XMP-powered platform. |
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Exchanging assets and metadata across platforms
| Author | Jennifer Binder |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Software is growing as a service leading clients to choose providers based on UI, features and relationships rather than platforms. This is leading to a greater demand for systems to exchange assets on differing platforms. This article focuses on how an asset travels with metadata embedded in the file from one system to another. |
| Editorial | How can SaaS open up opportunities for cross-platform asset management? This article stresses the importance of XMP in protecting the metadata attached to assets, particularly in exchanging data across platforms. |
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Upstream metadata and the impact of the IPTC schema for XMP and Adobe Bridge
| Author | Ron Roszkiewicz |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Metadata discovery and modeling generally takes place at the structured, server side of digital asset management (DAM). Upstream, at the unstructured, content creation end of DAM, widespread metadata acceptance and use is still subject to the availability and understanding of schema, tools for reading and writing, and methodologies that validate the data. The inevitability of metadata becoming a key component in digital rights management, universal searches, and as a tool to leverage in the automation of tedious tasks is all but certain. A couple of important milestones along this inevitable path are represented by the recent product and technology introductions from Adobe and International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC). An examination and analysis of the IPTC Core Schema for Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) and the Bridge application from Adobe is the subject of this paper. |
| Editorial | What is upstream metadata? This article links the “upstream” creation of asset metadata with the “downstream” asset cataloging function of DAM, calling attention to important milestones such as the recent product and technology introductions from Adobe and the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC). |
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Beyond digital asset management – Unlocking value where interactions and content intersect
| Author | Brian Meek |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Digital Asset Management systems provide a foundational component of enterprise software solutions aimed at managing and delivering effective customer-facing communications across a broadening array of communications channels. This article identifies “Web Content Management” software as the other key foundational element of multi-channel “Automated Publishing Systems” that are now evolving from conventional DAM implementations in order to drive customer acquisition and build customer loyalty. |
| Editorial | How are automated publishing systems unlocking the value of DAM? In this article, the author identifies web content management software as a key foundational element of multi-channel automated publishing systems. Besides this foray into a new market dynamic, a primer on Enterprise DAM is included as a supplemental sidebar. |
