Audiovisual Formats

OSTI Enables Audio and Video Indexing

DOE produces hundreds of videos each year that are available to users on lab and Program Office websites, on YouTube, and on specialized video sites. OSTI collects these videos and makes them searchable as one collection in DOE ScienceCinema. Like full-text indexing of a document, content indexing of an audio or video file greatly enhances the retrievability of the STI product as a whole and also enables a user to find the exact place in the video where the term he/she is searching for was actually spoken by the presenter or the narrator. The ability to search and "jump to" the spoken words in a video that may be an hour or longer is a unique, added value provided by DOE ScienceCinema and currently not available on sites such as YouTube.

Videos for DOE ScienceCinema

Videos with significant scientific and technical content are available in both OSTI.GOV and DOE ScienceCinema. These videos are typically from conferences and events where speakers or panels of speakers present the content. Webinars may also be disseminated through both OSTI.GOV and DOE ScienceCinema. Videos that are more promotional in nature or those that provide brief news/highlights, tours of labs and facilities, etc. are placed only in DOE ScienceCinema.

Submitting Videos to OSTI

Sites are encouraged to provide metadata and a link to a video or audio file through the AN 241.1 on E-Link or via the AN 241.1 Web Service. OSTI will process the metadata record and will attempt to download the video file for further content indexing by DOE ScienceCinema. If downloading is not possible, OSTI will contact the site to ask for the video file to be sent directly via email, FTP, or postal service.

Video Formats

The audiovisual formats that can be automatically downloaded, cached, and content-indexed by OSTI as CO (conference/event) STI submissions are listed below. MP4 is the preferred file type. If other types are received, they will be converted to MP4 for indexing, display, and inclusion in DOE ScienceCinema and OSTI.GOV. For audiovisual STI submissions that include the URL in the metadata there are a couple of things to consider:

• If the URL begins with http:// and if the STI video is not embedded in a proprietary player, OSTI will automatically cache a copy of the video for preservation.
• If your site is not hosting the STI video and you plan to upload instead, you will need to coordinate with OSTI to receive a password that will allow access to an FTP area or to arrange another form of physical delivery.