Lloyd's Register Foundation
Supporting the digital transformation of a 260-year heritage collection.
Around three million digital assets migrated into a DAMS built for the Heritage & Education Centre, with integration across collection management systems and the capacity to grow to 35 million assets.
The background.
The Lloyd's Register Foundation is a global charity dedicated to protecting the safety of life and property while advancing transport and engineering education. Through its Heritage & Education Centre.
As part of a wider Digital Transformation Programme, the Foundation set out to modernise how digital assets are managed, preserved and accessed, supporting the reopening of the Centre and improving access to globally significant collections.
The challenge.
A DAMS to support a growing digitisation programme inside a wider digital transformation.
Migration at scale
Approximately 3.6 million TIFF images and 1.15 million PDF files to manage and migrate, consolidated from multiple data sources.
Integrate with the CMS and public access platforms
Connect the DAMS to the Collections Management System and website front end via CIIM so assets remained discoverable, linked and accessible to both public users and internal teams.
Metadata & preservation
Enable structured metadata management and support future digital preservation requirements across the collection.
A platform that scales
Efficient workflows for archive teams, with the scalability to support future digitisation and the planned ingestion of 35 million microform assets.
Configure, implement, populate.
The project was approached as a collaborative partnership. With requirements already clear and data well prepared, both teams could focus on the most effective configuration and a smooth migration.
- DAMS configured around existing catalogue structures and workflows.
- Metadata fields, user access and permission structures defined with stakeholders.
- Around three million assets ingested from the QI/SPSR repository.
- Integration between the DAMS and the Collections Management System.
- Aetopia introduced AIP storage capabilities to support LTO migration and strengthen the Foundation's long-term digital preservation strategy.
The work, step by step.
Five workstreams ran from configuration through to security testing.
The high quality of the source data significantly contributed to the success of the migration.
DAMS configuration
Metadata fields, user access and permission structures, asset management workflows and integration planning, reflecting existing catalogue structures.
Large-scale data and asset ingestion
Migration of approximately three million assets from the QI/SPSR repository, mapping metadata fields and keeping asset identifiers intact throughout.
Systems integration
Establishing the connection between collection records and their digital assets, so users could access linked information across systems with consistent metadata.
Long-term storage strategy
Transferring LTO-held assets into cold storage while maintaining links to DAMS records to ensure cost-effective access to less frequently used content.
Security and testing support
Supporting third-party penetration testing through account creation, system access management and coordination of testing and validation.
"Aetopia worked closely with our team throughout the implementation, taking the time to understand our collections, metadata requirements and long-term objectives. Their collaborative approach helped us successfully migrate millions of digital assets and establish a DAMS that supports both our current needs and future digitisation activities. The project benefited from clear communication, practical problem-solving and a genuine partnership from start to finish."
"One of the most valuable aspects of working with Aetopia has been their willingness to understand not just our immediate requirements but our longer-term vision. As our collections continue to grow, including future microform digitisation projects, Aetopia has consistently adapted and enhanced the platform to support our preservation and access objectives. The introduction of AIP storage capabilities is a good example of that collaborative approach in action."
The results.
Where this goes next.
The project continues to evolve as Lloyd's Register Foundation expands its digital capabilities, building on the foundations established through the Digital Transformation Programme.
Aetopia DAMS
Built for collections at any scale.
Aetopia's Digital Asset Management System helps heritage organisations, archives and institutions preserve, organise and provide access to their most important collections, with powerful metadata management, system integration and the scalability to grow with your digitisation programme.