The most up to date survey of England’s Historic Environment Records (HERs) looks at recent trends in data availability, maintenance and use including working practice with local Conservation Officers.
English Heritage (EH) writes:
‘The Historic Environment Record (HER) Content and Computing Survey 2014 has been carried out across HERs, Sites and Monument Records (SMRs) and Urban Archaeological Databases (UADs) in England. The aim of the survey was to gather current statistical information on HERs in England. The survey concentrated on the content of HERs, and how the data is stored and made available. The survey has previously been run in 2002, 2005, 2009 and 2012.’
Key points likely to be of most interest to members include:
- 68% of HERs consult with Conservation Officers at least once every 6 months or more on their requirements for HER information.
- A decrease in number of HERs not consulting Conservation Officers at all down from 36% to 11%.
- An increase in the numbers of HERs whose local Conservation Officers use it for reactive casework from 60% to 72%
