Image database DECA

The image database DECA provides access to the picture archives of Cologne Cathedral (D), the University of Leiden (NL), Prague Castle (CZ) and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna (A). As part of the EU-funded project "DECA – Digital European Cathedral Archives", extensive collections of drawings, plans, illustrations and photographs from the four participating archives have been digitalised.
The digitalised image records are managed in a joint scientific database. Its content structure is based on the MIDAS guidelines (Marburg Inventarisation, Documentation and Administration System), which was developed by the photographic archives Foto Marburg, and thus allows detailed information processing. The computer-supported implementation of MIDAS occurs with the software HiDA (Hierarchical Document Administrator) developed by the Bonn-based company Startext.
Organisation of the information on art and architectural history into individual data fields enables users to carry out detailed research according to all kinds of criteria which can be combined in the search inquiry. Search results are initially presented in a kind of light box with small images and relevant basic information, containing in turn more detailed information and larger-scale images.