Archiving & Preservation Policy

Last Updated: 04/09/2025

TheSustainImpact is committed to the long-term accessibility, integrity, and availability of all published content. This policy applies to the TheSustainImpact Conference Proceedings Series (ISSN 3051-7362) and future journals published under TheSustainImpact.

1. Scope

This policy covers preservation of all final, published items (articles, abstracts, issues, metadata, and supplementary materials) hosted on the OJS platform at publications.thesustainimpact.com.

2. Preservation Services

2.1 PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN)

TheSustainImpact participates in the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN), which uses the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) distributed preservation system to ensure that published content remains accessible even in the event of system failure or journal discontinuation. The PKP PN plugin is enabled for eligible published issues, and content is deposited automatically once publication workflows are complete.

2.2 Local Redundancy and Backups

  • Regular server-level backups of the OJS application and database are maintained by the hosting provider.
  • Backups are retained on a rolling basis to support point-in-time restoration in the event of data loss.

2.3 Public Publications Archive

All volumes and issues are also listed in TheSustainImpact’s public-facing Publications Archive, where stable URLs are provided for citation and library use.

2.4 Indexing and Repository Deposits

Published metadata is exposed for harvesting and discovery. Where appropriate, content and/or metadata may be deposited in indexing databases and institutional or subject repositories to maximize visibility and long-term access.

3. Trigger Events and Restoration

Preservation copies may be served to readers when any of the following occurs:

  • Temporary or permanent unavailability of the primary hosting platform;
  • Catastrophic data loss or corruption affecting the primary platform;
  • Journal or series discontinuation.

In such cases, preserved content remains accessible through PKP PN/LOCKSS or other designated preservation services.

4. Versions, File Formats, and Integrity

  • Version of Record: The final published PDF (and any approved supplementary files) constitute the version of record.
  • File Formats: PDF is the primary preservation format. Supplementary materials may include common, non-proprietary formats where feasible.
  • Checksums & Fixity: Preservation networks perform integrity checks to detect and prevent content drift.
  • Persistent Identifiers: Where assigned, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and stable URLs are maintained to support persistent citation and discovery.

5. Post-Publication Updates

Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are managed in line with our ethics policy. Related notices are linked to the affected records and preserved alongside the version of record. For details, see our Ethical Guidelines and Responsibilities.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Editorial Office: Confirms eligibility and finalizes issues for preservation deposit.
  • Platform Administration: Ensures the PKP PN plugin is active and monitors deposit status.
  • Publisher: Maintains hosting continuity, backup schedules, and public archive listings.

7. Contact

Questions about preservation and access can be directed to editorial@thesustainimpact.com.