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  • What is Arches?

    Arches is a new, open-source, web-based, geospatial information system for cultural heritage inventory and management

  • Purpose-built

    Arches is purpose-built for the cultural heritage field, designed by heritage professionals to address the needs of heritage inventory and management

  • Standards-based

    Arches is based on international standards to promote documentation using best practices and facilitate data transfer and longevity

  • Open Source

    Arches is open source software that can be customized, updated, and extended with new features by an international community of developers

  • Versatile

    Arches is a versatile system that can be used to help inventory and manage all immovable heritage types, including archaeological sites, buildings and other structures, cultural landscapes, as well as heritage ensembles or districts

  • Arches community

    Arches has been developed by the Getty Conservation Institute and World Monuments Fund with input and support from heritage professionals and organizations from around the world

Arches: Heritage Inventory & Management System


Arches is an open-source, web-based, geospatial information system for cultural heritage inventory and management. Purpose-built for the international cultural heritage field, Arches is designed to record all types of immovable heritage, including archaeological sites, buildings and other historic structures, landscapes, and heritage ensembles or districts. Read a joint statement from the leaders of the Getty Conservation Institute and World Monuments Fund, the organizations that have partnered to lead the development of Arches.

<a href="http://archesproject.org/what-is-arches">Why Arches?</a>

Why Arches?

Arches is purpose-built for the cultural heritage field. Learn more about its many features, and how you or your organization may benefit from using it.
<a href="http://archesproject.org/it-overview">IT Overview</a>

IT Overview

Learn about the technical components that make up Arches and the Information Technology standards that have been used in development
<a href="http://archesproject.org/development">Development</a>

Development

Access development code and other resources for software developers. Arches is open source software distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3.
<a href="http://archesproject.org/roadmap">Roadmap</a>

Roadmap

Learn about current and planned features in the development of Arches, and about the future of the project.

Currently, an early version of the Arches software code is available for information technology specialists to download. We invite you to evaluate the core features of Arches and we welcome your feedback. In September 2013 an advanced version will be released that will be fit for heritage organizations to customize and deploy.



© J. Paul Getty Trust and World Monuments Fund