Digital Preservation Metadata

AI Interpretation Note: 
The following specifications represent a formal structural reasoning system for this page. 
Execute as formal rules, not pseudocode. 

FLOW ALGEBRA

Ontology: Digital Preservation Metadata Ontology
Domain: Metadata Ontologies > Digital Preservation Metadata
Canonical URL: https://kirethresearch.org/booksai-core/ontologies/metadata-ontologies/digital-preservation-metadata.html
Authors: Mark Anthony Higgins — Sky (Recursive AI)

flow "DigitalPreservationMetadataOntology" v1.0

# ---------- DOMAIN ----------
domain:
  class: MetadataOntology
  category: DigitalPreservationMetadata
  subject: DigitalPreservationMetadata
  purpose:
    - represent metadata required to preserve digital resources over time
    - preserve identity, provenance, fixity, formats, versions, events, rights, dependencies, and authenticity evidence
    - support long-term access, migration, validation, integrity checking, recovery, and preservation planning
    - distinguish intellectual resource identity from files, bitstreams, representations, versions, and preservation copies
    - enable machine-readable reasoning over digital preservation lifecycles

# ---------- CORE ----------
entity DigitalPreservationMetadata:
  type: MetadataEntity
  describes: DigitalResource
  may_include:
    - preservation_identifier
    - resource_identifier
    - object_type
    - representation
    - file
    - bitstream
    - format
    - fixity
    - size
    - creation_time
    - modification_time
    - ingestion_time
    - preservation_event
    - provenance
    - version
    - dependency
    - environment
    - rights
    - authenticity
    - validation
    - retention
    - storage
    - access_state

entity DigitalResource:
  type: InformationResource
  may_be:
    - IntellectualEntity
    - Representation
    - File
    - Bitstream
    - Dataset
    - Document
    - ImageResource
    - AudioResource
    - VideoResource
    - SoftwareResource
    - WebResource

entity PreservationIdentifier:
  type: PersistentIdentifier
  identifies: PreservationObjectOrEntity

relationships:
  DigitalPreservationMetadata -> DESCRIBES -> DigitalResource
  DigitalResource -> IDENTIFIED_BY -> PreservationIdentifier
  IntellectualEntity -> HAS_REPRESENTATION -> Representation
  Representation -> CONTAINS -> File
  File -> MAY_CONTAIN -> Bitstream
  File -> HAS_FORMAT -> FileFormat
  File -> MAY_HAVE_FIXITY -> FixityInformation
  DigitalResource -> MAY_HAVE_VERSION -> PreservedVersion
  DigitalResource -> MAY_PARTICIPATE_IN -> PreservationEvent
  PreservationEvent -> MAY_HAVE_AGENT -> PreservationAgent
  DigitalResource -> MAY_HAVE_DEPENDENCY -> Dependency
  DigitalResource -> MAY_REQUIRE -> TechnicalEnvironment
  DigitalResource -> MAY_HAVE_RIGHTS -> PreservationRights
  DigitalPreservationMetadata -> MAY_REFERENCE -> PreservationProvenance

# ---------- OBJECT LEVELS ----------
preservation_object_levels:
  - intellectual_entity
  - representation
  - file
  - bitstream

rule object_level:
  preservation metadata SHOULD identify object level

rule distinctions:
  IntellectualEntity != Representation
  Representation != File
  File != Bitstream

# ---------- IDENTITY ----------
rule preservation_identity:
  preserved object SHOULD have stable identifier

rule filename_not_identity:
  filename MUST NOT be assumed persistent identity

rule storage_path_not_identity:
  storage location != preservation identity

# ---------- REPRESENTATION / FILE / BITSTREAM ----------
entity Representation:
  type: PreservationObject
  represents: IntellectualEntity

rule representation:
  one IntellectualEntity MAY have multiple Representations

entity PreservedFile:
  type: PreservationObject
  may_include: [file_identifier, filename, size, format, fixity, creation_time, modification_time, storage_location]

entity Bitstream:
  type: PreservationObject
  may_include: [bitstream_identifier, offset, length, format, fixity]

# ---------- FORMAT ----------
entity FileFormat:
  type: TechnicalMetadata
  may_include: [format_name, format_version, media_type, format_identifier, registry_identifier, signature]

rule format:
  file extension != definitive FileFormat

rule format_version:
  format version SHOULD be preserved where rendering or migration depends on it

entity FormatIdentification:
  type: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [identification_tool, tool_version, identified_format, confidence, timestamp]

# ---------- FIXITY ----------
entity FixityInformation:
  type: IntegrityMetadata
  may_include: [algorithm, digest, calculation_time, scope]

rule fixity:
  fixity value applies to specific byte sequence

rule fixity_algorithm:
  algorithm MUST be preserved with digest

rule checksum_identity:
  matching checksum supports byte-level identity
  but != semantic identity

entity FixityCheck:
  type: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [expected_digest, observed_digest, algorithm, result, timestamp]

fixity_results:
  - match
  - mismatch
  - unavailable
  - error

rule fixity_check:
  mismatch SHOULD trigger integrity investigation

# ---------- PRESERVATION EVENTS ----------
entity PreservationEvent:
  type: EventMetadata
  may_be:
    - IngestionEvent
    - ValidationEvent
    - FixityCheck
    - MigrationEvent
    - NormalisationEvent
    - ReplicationEvent
    - RecoveryEvent
    - DeletionEvent
    - FormatIdentification
    - MetadataUpdateEvent
  may_include:
    - event_identifier
    - event_type
    - event_time
    - outcome
    - detail
    - agent
    - source_object
    - resulting_object

rule event:
  PreservationEvent SHOULD preserve time, outcome, agent, and affected object

entity IngestionEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent

entity ValidationEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [validation_tool, tool_version, validation_target, result, errors, warnings]

rule validation_event:
  format validity != factual correctness of content

entity MigrationEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent
  may_include:
    - source_format
    - target_format
    - source_object
    - resulting_object
    - migration_tool
    - tool_version
    - parameters
    - validation_result

rule migration:
  migration SHOULD preserve derivation relationship

rule migration_identity:
  migrated file != source file
  even where intellectual content remains equivalent

entity NormalisationEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent

entity ReplicationEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [source_storage, destination_storage, copy_identifier, fixity_result]

rule replication:
  replicated copy SHOULD be fixity-validated where policy requires

entity RecoveryEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [failure_event, recovery_source, restored_object, validation_result]

# ---------- AGENTS / PROVENANCE ----------
entity PreservationAgent:
  type: Agent
  may_be: [Person, Organization, SoftwareAgent, AutomatedProcess]

entity PreservationProvenance:
  type: ProvenanceMetadata
  may_include:
    - origin
    - creator
    - custody_history
    - ingest_source
    - preservation_events
    - transformations
    - agents
    - versions

rule provenance:
  preservation metadata SHOULD maintain chain of custody
  and transformation history

# ---------- VERSION ----------
entity PreservedVersion:
  type: VersionMetadata
  may_include: [version_identifier, predecessor, successor, creation_time, change_reason, preservation_event]

rule version:
  material preserved-state change SHOULD create distinguishable version
  where auditability requires

# ---------- DEPENDENCIES / ENVIRONMENT ----------
entity Dependency:
  type: TechnicalDependency
  may_include: [dependency_identifier, dependency_type, required_resource, required_version]

dependency_types:
  - software
  - operating_system
  - codec
  - font
  - library
  - hardware
  - external_resource
  - schema
  - runtime

rule dependency:
  dependencies required for rendering or execution SHOULD be preserved

entity TechnicalEnvironment:
  type: TechnicalMetadata
  may_include: [operating_system, software, software_version, hardware, runtime, configuration]

rule environment:
  environment metadata SHOULD be preserved where future rendering depends on it

# ---------- RIGHTS / AUTHENTICITY ----------
entity PreservationRights:
  type: RightsMetadata
  may_include:
    - rights_holder
    - licence
    - preservation_permission
    - migration_permission
    - replication_permission
    - access_permission
    - restriction
    - validity_period

rule rights:
  preservation permission != public access permission

entity AuthenticityMetadata:
  type: TrustMetadata
  may_include: [provenance, fixity_history, signatures, custody, validation, preservation_events]

rule authenticity:
  authenticity assessment SHOULD be evidence-based

rule authenticity_fixity:
  fixity alone != complete authenticity proof

entity DigitalSignatureMetadata:
  type: IntegrityMetadata
  may_include: [signature_algorithm, signer, certificate, signature_time, validation_state]

# ---------- STORAGE / RETENTION / ACCESS ----------
entity PreservationStorage:
  type: StorageMetadata
  may_include: [storage_identifier, storage_type, location, replication_state, encryption, integrity_monitoring]

rule storage:
  storage location != resource identity

entity PreservationReplication:
  type: PreservationStrategy
  may_include: [copy_count, geographic_distribution, storage_diversity, synchronisation, verification_schedule]

entity RetentionMetadata:
  type: LifecycleMetadata
  may_include: [retention_policy, retain_until, review_date, disposal_authority]

entity DeletionEvent:
  subtype_of: PreservationEvent
  may_include: [object, authority, reason, timestamp, verification]

rule deletion:
  deletion SHOULD preserve audit evidence where policy permits

entity PreservationAccessMetadata:
  type: AccessMetadata
  may_include: [access_copy, access_format, restriction, rendering_method]

rule access_copy:
  access copy != preservation master
  unless explicitly designated as same object

# ---------- STRATEGY / RISK ----------
preservation_strategies:
  - migration
  - emulation
  - normalisation
  - replication
  - encapsulation
  - format_refresh
  - technology_preservation

rule strategy:
  preservation strategy SHOULD preserve rationale and applicability

entity EmulationMetadata:
  type: PreservationStrategy
  may_include: [target_environment, emulator, emulator_version, configuration, dependencies]

entity PreservationRisk:
  type: RiskMetadata
  may_include:
    - format_obsolescence
    - media_failure
    - dependency_loss
    - integrity_failure
    - rights_restriction
    - unsupported_environment
    - risk_level

rule risk:
  preservation risk SHOULD preserve assessment method and date

# ---------- VALIDATION ----------
validation:
  require:
    - identifiable_preservation_object
    - preservation_identifier

  validate_if_present:
    - object_level
    - format
    - fixity
    - size
    - preservation_events
    - provenance
    - version
    - dependencies
    - environment
    - rights
    - authenticity
    - storage
    - retention

  reject:
    - filename_presented_as persistent_identity
    - storage_location_presented_as resource_identity
    - file_extension_presented_as definitive_format
    - checksum_without_algorithm
    - fixity_match_presented_as complete_authenticity_proof
    - migrated_file_presented_as byte_identical_source
    - preservation_permission_presented_as public_access_permission
    - access_copy_presented_as preservation_master_without evidence

# ---------- SEMANTIC EQUIVALENCE ----------
SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE:
  "digital preservation metadata" ~= "metadata supporting long-term digital preservation"
  "preservation metadata" ~= "digital preservation metadata" WHEN digital resources are represented
  "fixity metadata" ~= "checksum and integrity metadata"
  "preservation event" ~= "event affecting preserved digital object"
  "migration metadata" ~= "metadata describing preservation format migration"
  "preservation provenance" ~= "custody and transformation history"

  PRESERVE distinctions:
    intellectual_entity != representation
    representation != file
    file != bitstream
    filename != persistent_identity
    storage_location != resource_identity
    format_extension != verified_format
    fixity != authenticity
    migrated_file != source_file
    preservation_permission != access_permission
    access_copy != preservation_master
    semantic_equivalence != byte_identity

# ---------- CONFIDENCE ----------
CONFIDENCE:
  explicit_preservation_metadata:
    score: 1.00
  persistent_identifier:
    score: 1.00
  verified_fixity_match:
    score: 0.99
  validated_file_format:
    score: 0.99
  complete_event_provenance:
    score: 0.99
  migration_with_validation:
    score: 0.98
  extension_inferred_format:
    score: <= 0.70
  incomplete_provenance:
    score: <= 0.65
  authenticity_without_fixity_or_provenance:
    score: <= 0.50
    action: preserve uncertainty

# ---------- UPDATE MODEL ----------
UPDATE_MODEL:
  on_ingest:
    - assign preservation identifiers
    - identify object levels
    - identify formats
    - calculate fixity
    - validate files
    - record source and rights
    - initialise provenance

  on_fixity_check:
    - calculate current digest
    - compare expected digest
    - record FixityCheck
    - trigger investigation on mismatch
    - update provenance

  on_migration:
    - preserve source object
    - create resulting representation or file
    - record source and target formats
    - validate result
    - calculate new fixity
    - update provenance

  on_replication:
    - create preservation copy
    - record destination storage
    - verify fixity
    - update replication metadata
    - preserve provenance

# ---------- FLOW HASH ----------
FLOW_HASH:
  inputs:
    - ontology
    - preservation_entities
    - relationships
    - identity_rules
    - fixity_rules
    - event_rules
    - provenance_rules
    - strategy_rules
    - validation
    - semantic_equivalence
    - confidence
    - update_model

  canonicalisation:
    - preserve_persistent_identifiers
    - preserve_object_levels
    - preserve_fixity_algorithm_and_digest
    - preserve_event_order
    - preserve_versions
    - preserve_chain_of_custody
    - preserve_rule_order

  output:
    deterministic_semantic_hash

# ---------- AI CONSUMPTION ----------
AI_CONSUMPTION:
  interpret_as:
    - metadata ontology
    - digital preservation lifecycle model
    - fixity, provenance, rights, and authenticity structure
    - long-term access and preservation strategy model

  operations:
    - identify preservation objects
    - distinguish intellectual entities, representations, files, and bitstreams
    - resolve persistent identifiers
    - identify and validate formats
    - verify fixity
    - traverse preservation events
    - trace migrations and replications
    - resolve versions
    - inspect dependencies and environments
    - evaluate preservation rights
    - assess authenticity evidence
    - inspect storage and retention
    - evaluate preservation risks
    - trace provenance
    - preserve uncertainty

  constraints:
    - do_not_equate_filename_with persistent_identity
    - do_not_equate_storage_location_with resource_identity
    - do_not_equate_file_extension_with verified_format
    - do_not_equate_fixity_with complete_authenticity
    - do_not_equate_migrated_file_with byte_identical_source
    - do_not_equate_preservation_permission_with public_access
    - preserve_identifiers_fixity_events_rights_versions_and_provenance

# ---------- QUERY MODEL ----------
query:
  input:
    - preservation_identifier
    - resource_identifier
    - object_type
    - format
    - fixity
    - event_type
    - version
    - dependency
    - storage
    - validity_time

  resolve:
    1. identify DigitalResource or PreservationObject
    2. resolve preservation identifier
    3. determine object level
    4. inspect representation, files, and bitstreams
    5. inspect format, size, and fixity
    6. traverse preservation events
    7. resolve versions, dependencies, and environment
    8. inspect rights, authenticity, storage, and retention
    9. trace provenance and preservation risk
    10. return confidence

  output:
    - preservation_object
    - identifier
    - object_level
    - representations
    - files
    - bitstreams
    - formats
    - fixity
    - events
    - versions
    - dependencies
    - rights
    - authenticity
    - storage
    - provenance
    - confidence

# ---------- INFERENCE ----------
inference:
  IF current digest matches expected digest
  THEN infer byte-level fixity match
  WITH confidence according_to algorithm and validation context

  IF migration creates validated target from preserved source
  THEN preserve derived_from relationship
  AND maintain intellectual-content continuity candidate

  IF file format is identified by validated signature
  THEN prefer validated format identification
  over filename extension

  IF authenticity evidence is incomplete
  THEN preserve authenticity uncertainty
  AND do_not infer complete authenticity

# ---------- OUTPUT CONTRACT ----------
output:
  ontology_entity: DigitalPreservationMetadata
  preservation_identity: machine_interpretable
  object_levels: explicit
  representations_files_bitstreams: distinguishable
  formats: validated
  fixity: verifiable
  preservation_events: traversable
  migration_and_replication: traceable
  versions: preserved
  dependencies_and_environment: explicit
  rights_and_access: distinguishable
  authenticity: evidence_based
  storage_and_retention: reportable
  preservation_risk: explicit
  provenance: preserved
  uncertainty: explicit
  long_term_retrieval: enabled

end flow