28th August 2012, 11:41 AM
Intrasis is a good GIS and database, but not the best at either job. The two big issues are that 1) it is so customisable that it takes serious effort to set it up before first use (and effort=money!) if you don't wish to adopt the SNHB's own complete recording methodology, and 2) it belongs to somebody else, so you're paying license fees to SNHB in perpetuity. Intrasis lets you record all sorts of data about all types of site records (contexts, finds, samples, plans, etc) and link them together so others can quickly sift through them as needed, but every bit of info needs to be lovingly entered by the on-site staff, who consequently spend less time actually out on site. To get best use from the database/GIS you really need big projects that run long enough for lots of data to be entered in order to give the staff something to play with - if the site is too simple there is nothing to be gained over simpler procedures like paper recording and CAD/GIS mapping, and if it is too short you'll be doing all the data-entry and investigating in post-ex anyway where there are cheaper tools. Trouble is, EH and most others here simply don't run the kind of large, long digs that could see the best return on investment.
Sadly, the true digital recording future for British Archaeology is open-source...
Sadly, the true digital recording future for British Archaeology is open-source...