Preservation Context:

The quickened pace of societal change can adversely affect preservation
efforts by forcing planning and design decisions without an adequate
understanding of the larger cultural and environmental context of which an
historic resource may be but a single part.  It is essential to consider
the greater context of the cultural resource, the 'toute ensemble' that
characterizes the cultural 'ecosystem' and represents the collective
significance and integrity of the cultural experience.  The
multidimensional context of place is especially difficult to record and
demonstrate coherently, and yet a fundamental understanding of this scale
is an essential task of the cultural resource manager.  It is clear that
the more comprehensive, coherent, and accessible the information base, the
more effective the preservation specialist in making judgments about the
historic resource.

Constraints imposed by the inadequate time or funding allowed to coherently
examine and understand the implications of decision choices invariably
exacerbate the already formidable challenges of cultural resource
management.  Although traditional techniques, when in the hands of
adequately skilled professionals, have often proven successful as a basis
for informed CRM decisions, the utilization of traditional tools and
methods is often a costly, cumbersome process.  With pressures on the
integrity of individual resources mounting, the availability of fast,
cost-effective methods for informed resource management decisions is
essential.

<afile13>   Threats to Cultural Resources
<afile15>   Information Flow:  Three Problems
<bfile20>   Future Management Needs
<efile11>   Integrated Preservation Information Systems