Abstract:

The increasing complexity of the initiatives in which Universities Cultural and Scientific Heritage Services are involved entails abilities and competencies that go beyond their current framework of resources and expertise.

The Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (FCCN) points out that the world of science is currently facing a data tsunami and it is universally agreed that the ability to store, transmit and process complex and large volumes of data is a top priority.

ICT and new digital media leverage cohesion can act as facilitators providing means to the Heritage digitization, either as a preservation strategy (risks of destruction of physical artifacts/buildings), or as a means to producing digital contents that can be accessed anytime and anywhere by different users for different purposes.

Nonetheless, investment in e-Heritage could be either a total failure or a tremendous success, depending on the way it considers technology obsolescence (hardware and software) and the dynamical interaction with society.

Thus, the lack of policies and the need for long term strategies require a sustainable approach to digital contents (co)production, storage, (re)usage, broadcasting and preservation in the long run.

Open communities, many areas of expertise for creating interaction along with educational and research results in a commitment to a sustainable e-Heritage in the Knowledge Society could be an answer.

Keywords:

Digital, preservation, e-Heritage, sustainable, contents, data, interaction.