HERA Data Preservation plans and activities

Abstract

An international inter-experimental study group on data preservation and long-term analysis in HEP (DPHEP) was convened at the end of 2008 and held a series of workshops during 2009. The HERA experiments H1, ZEUS, HERMES as well as the IT division and the Library are well represented in DPHEP and efforts are now being made to form a coherent approach at DESY. Various options for preservation are explored, from permanent evolution (H1) to the use of virtualisation techniques (ZEUS). Both experiments have planned the computing and the associated resources until 2013 and now explore possibilities to ensure the maintenance of the data analysis capabilities beyond 2013. A common effort and additional resources may lead to longer viability of data analysis. Technical solutions have been investigated by DESY-IT and involve virtualisation systems tailored for long term software preservation as well as systems for self consistent data archiving and migration. The communication between experiments, DESY-IT and the Library have put forward the possibility for further common developments related to documentation scanning and storage as well as pilot projects within the HEP documentation system INSPIRE. The evaluation of such projects is ongoing and concrete proposals to ensure HERA data analysis after 2013 are expected in 2010.