Sustainable Data Management: Indefinite Static Data at Rest with Machine-Readable Printed Optical Data Sheets (MRPODS)
Ray Doll
TL;DR
The paper tackles durable, cyber-resilient storage by encoding digital data into machine-readable optical data sheets (MRPODS) for offline long-term archiving. It analyzes the economic and environmental implications of photonic data transcription, supported by a Proof of Concept that uses Reed-Solomon error correction and a bzip2-based compression pipeline. Key findings show substantial data density gains on printed sheets and security features such as high-DPI encoding, data obfuscation, and retrieval-ambiguity headers, with software portability considerations across hardware architectures. The study concludes that MRPODS can offer durable, low-energy, and potentially lower-cost data preservation for businesses, supported by metrics such as $CR = \frac{ODS}{CDS}$ and $DD = \frac{1}{CDS}$ to quantify density improvements.
Abstract
In an era where both commercial and private sectors place a premium on the longevity of digital data storage, the imperative to bolster resilience of digital information while simultaneously curbing costs and reducing failure rates becomes paramount. This study delves into the unique attributes of optical encoding methodologies, which are poised to offer enduring stability for digital data. Despite their promising potential, there remains a notable dearth of comprehensive analyses comparing various optical encoding techniques in terms of their durability. This research is thus dedicated to exploring the financial and environmental implications of employing technology to transcribe digital data into a machine-readable optical format, assessing both the advantages and limitations inherent in this approach. Our empirical findings reveal a marked increase in the efficiency of machine-readable optical encoding over conventional digital storage methods, particularly as the volume of data diminishes and the expected lifespan of storage extends indefinitely. This paper aims to illuminate key aspects of long-term digital data storage within business contexts, focusing on aspects such as cost, dependability, legibility, and confidentiality of optically encoded digital information.