A W7 structured metadata framework for reinforcing data provenances in 2D/3D digitization workflows

Abstract. The documentation and provenance tracking of digitization workflows in Cultural Heritage (CH) face persistent challenges due to fragmented metadata practices and the absence of intuitive frameworks. This paper presents a W7-structured metadata framework, implemented through ANAMNESIS, an open-source platform designed to reinforce data provenance in 2D/3D digitization workflows. By systematically capturing the what, who, where, when, why, how, and which dimensions of digitization activities, the W7 model provides a structured, semantic approach to documenting critical technical and contextual details often lost in current practices. The platform operationalizes this framework with customizable schemas tailored to 2D/3D imaging workflows, ensuring traceability, reproducibility, and interoperability. Through real-case applications, the proposed approach not only preserves data provenance but also enables FAIR-by-design practices, empowering CH practitioners to contribute to a standardized, collaborative knowledge base.