CARARE 2.0: A metadata schema for 3D cultural objects

One of the features of the digital data is that they cannot be understood without information about their meaning and the ways they have been created. 3D ICONS, a project funded by the European Commission, has brought together partners expert in 3D digitization of the archaeological and architectural heritage to contribute content to Europeana. The project has had as one of its main objectives the quality control of 3D data and establishing a metadata schema to support the provenance and paradata required for quality assurance of 3D models. This paper describes provenance in the CRM dig schema, the paradata principles of the London Charter and how provenance and paradata could be relevant for the new strategy of Europeana. The schema, which builds on earlier work in the CARARE project, aims to foster the adoption of a clearer approach to describing the features of cultural object, the techniques and the methodologies chosen for the digitization and the motivation behind the creation of a digital object. Complete knowledge of the digital resource allows for more efficient reuse and increased usability of the resources on-line.