The OAIS (Open Archival Information System) Reference Model was developed by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) as a first step towards generating formal standards for the long-term archiving of Space Science data. It is a conceptual framework rather than a fully-fledged, prescriptive standard, and is intended to identify the necessary features of an archival information system rather than re-commend any particular implementation.
The reference model:
- provides a framework for the understanding and increased awareness of archival concepts needed for long term digital information preservation and access;
- provides the concepts needed by non-archival organisations to be effective participants in the preservation process;
- provides a framework, including terminology and concepts, for describing and comparing architectures and operations of existing and future archives;
- provides a framework for describing and comparing different long term preservation strategies and techniques;
- provides a basis for comparing the data models of digital information preserved by archives and for discussing how data models and the underlying information may change over time;
- provides a foundation that may be expanded by other efforts to cover long-term preservation of information that is not in digital form (e.g., physical media and physical samples);
- expands consensus on the elements and processes for long-term digital information preservation and access, and promotes a larger market which vendors can support;
- guides the identification and production of OAIS-related standards.