Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maximum

Please post any tips or advice you have in general relating to laser scanning either whilst onsite or office based.
Post Reply
User avatar
stevenbutt
I have made 10-20 posts
I have made 10-20 posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:03 pm
9
Full Name: Steven Butt
Company Details: Bridgeway Consulting
Company Position Title: Project Delivery Surveyor
Country: UK
Linkedin Profile: Yes

Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maximum

Post by stevenbutt »

At the moment my workplace currently permanently archives everything for an indeterminate period of time.

As surveying technology progresses we are capturing very large data from sources such as high resolution HDS equipment, and the Amberg Kinematic Scanner.

Are their Codes of Practice that I could refer to as regards to minimum / maximum data retention period.
tomii7
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:38 am
14
Full Name: Tomasz Gerlich
Company Details: OutPut Precision Ltd
Company Position Title: Director
Country: UK
Skype Name: tomek.gerlich
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Location: Manchester, UK
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 7 times
Contact:

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by tomii7 »

Hi Steve!
Did you solve the issue? If not, I think you should contact with:
SCCS survey company:
http://www.sccssurvey.co.uk/other-surve ... -rail.html
or
Amberg:
http://www.ambergtechnologies.ch/en/home/ ,or contact with network rail (maybe in network rail standard something is written)
or read amberg trolley manual or download a cracked software:)
regards,
Tom
-----
Best Regards,
Tomasz Gerlich

tomaszgerlich[at]outputprecision.com or tomaszgerlich[at]gmail.com
+44 7756613300

www.outputprecision.com - Reality Capture
www.realitycapture3d.com - Matterport

OutPut Precision Ltd, Manchester, UK
dtmcnamara
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:31 pm
10
Full Name: David McNamara
Company Details: Freelance
Company Position Title: Research
Country: United States
Linkedin Profile: Yes

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by dtmcnamara »

I can tell you from my personal experience that every company is different, i know this does not help at all. Ive seen most keep data for 3 to 5 years, others that just kept the data for 90 days post completion of the project and finally a few that wanted to archive the data forever. How much data are we talking about? There comes a point in time where cloud based storage is cheaper per GB, but we are talking about a number in the hundreds of terabytes.
dtmcnamara
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:31 pm
10
Full Name: David McNamara
Company Details: Freelance
Company Position Title: Research
Country: United States
Linkedin Profile: Yes

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by dtmcnamara »

I can tell you from my personal experience that every company is different, i know this does not help at all. Ive seen most keep data for 3 to 5 years, others that just kept the data for 90 days post completion of the project and finally a few that wanted to archive the data forever. How much data are we talking about? There comes a point in time where cloud based storage is cheaper per GB, but we are talking about a number in the hundreds of terabytes.
User avatar
NByrd
I have made 20-30 posts
I have made 20-30 posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 5:10 pm
10
Full Name: Nicholas Byrd
Company Details: Dewalt Corporation
Company Position Title: Senior 3D Specialist
Country: USA
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Location: California, USA

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by NByrd »

It's true the every company is different, and possibly every project. I should think it depends on the size of your company as well, or rather the size of your data. For a small/medium business like us, we can afford to just archive 100% of everything we do, possibly forever because at the end of the day, harddrive space is pretty cheap compared to the pain of needing data you've destroyed. Obviously that's not practical for someone pumping out hundreds of terabytes, just have to gauge your own needs I suppose. That being said I think in any professional service industry, a company should at least be expected to retain for a bare minimum, like 90 days or so. I know this discussion has been hashed out here before ad nauseam, try searching around the forum and you might find more opinions. :D
User avatar
stevenbutt
I have made 10-20 posts
I have made 10-20 posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:03 pm
9
Full Name: Steven Butt
Company Details: Bridgeway Consulting
Company Position Title: Project Delivery Surveyor
Country: UK
Linkedin Profile: Yes

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by stevenbutt »

We are a medium sized business with an Aecosim & Revit BIM, Static Scanning using Cyclone 9, and Amberg Rail 2 Software. All legitimate I might add too that's a different topic all together. We use synology NAS boxes over a CAT 6 Network for the storage that us the end users see. Our IT have two Comms rooms they back each other up so there are always two on site copies if saved on the network. Also an archive is taken off site at regular intervals for disaster cover.
I think it has been decided that more of an emphasis will be placed on our contract as to data retention to draw clients attention to the potential cost to us and ultimately them.
It is also a means for our IT department to predict future storage requirements. Whilst harddrives are cheap the nas boxes to host them aren't free.
User avatar
andyevans
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 276
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:19 am
16
Full Name: Andy Evans
Company Details: Topcon
Company Position Title: Product Manager - Mass Data
Country: UK
Linkedin Profile: Yes

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by andyevans »

stevenbutt wrote:At the moment my workplace currently permanently archives everything for an indeterminate period of time.

As surveying technology progresses we are capturing very large data from sources such as high resolution HDS equipment, and the Amberg Kinematic Scanner.

Are their Codes of Practice that I could refer to as regards to minimum / maximum data retention period.
Sat in a great CPD event at ICES HQ, Sale that discussed, amongst other things, construction contract periods.

If I remember correctly if you are involved in a construction project then liability for work done is 6 years to 13 years depending on the contract - but additionally can be negotiated.

So, I'd say 5 years is perhaps the minimum archive requirement for survey data unless specified otherwise.

........this now leads into a nice discussion about BIM aka Digital Project Management.......
Oatfedgoat
Honorary Member
Honorary Member
Posts: 1047
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:31 pm
15
Full Name: Matthew McCarter
Company Details: Costain
Company Position Title: BIM Manager
Country: England
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Survey data retention period - Is there a minimum / maxi

Post by Oatfedgoat »

6 years is frequently a period of time I hear for this.
No idea of the origins of this.

I'll ask one of the "BIM Solicitors" at BIM Show Live. I'm sure they will know what and why.
Post Reply

Return to “Tips & Advice”