Too Big or Too Many for Browser File Upload? How Two Lantau Galleries Reached DataSpace@HKUST
DataSpace@HKUST, our institutional data repository, accepts files of up to 5 GB through its web upload form. But for very large files, or very many, the browser is not always the best way in. The DataSpace team can upload them for you instead, straight onto the server and at full quality, even files over 5 GB. In August we did this for 16 films from two community galleries on Lantau Island.
The Tai O Fishermen's Gallery (大澳漁家影像館) follows Tai O's fishing families, with their stilt houses, boats and temple festivals. The Santau Farm Life Gallery (䃟頭村農家生活館) records farming life in a village on Tung Chung Bay founded about 300 years ago. Both now face demolition, so the Library and Prof. Siu Woo Cheung, Associate Professor Emeritus in the Division of Humanities, have preserved them as 360° virtual tours and as an open collection on DataSpace@HKUST.
Why we skipped the browser
The collection shows both problems. Each of the 16 films in 4K is 0.4 to 2.7 GB. The files are within the limit, but large enough to stall partway on an unsteady connection. The 95 photographs are small but many, and a long list of uploads means more chances for one to fail unnoticed.
So the DataSpace team copied the original 4K films straight onto the server. The collection went public on 17 August 2026.
Help with your own uploads
HKUST faculty, staff and research postgraduate students can ask for the same help for files of several gigabytes, folders of hundreds of files, or any upload that keeps stalling. The benefits are:
- No 5 GB cap. Files too large for the web form can still go in this way.
- Your time stays on research. No uploads to watch, and none to restart.
- No stalled uploads. Your files skip the browser, so your connection is no longer the weak link.
- Private and intact. Only you and the DataSpace team can see the files until you approve them, and each file's MD5 fingerprint lets you confirm it arrived intact.
Email lbds@ust.hk with the total size, number of files and formats. You still describe the data, choose the licence and confirm you hold the rights.
Explore the collection
The films record Tai O's festivals and daily life, from the Dragon Boat Water Parade (龍舟遊涌), on the national list of intangible cultural heritage since 2011, to frying yau gok (炸油角) for Lunar New Year. The photographs are described in detail and, like the films, openly licensed under CC BY 4.0. Here is one:
| Metadata | This Photo |
|---|---|
| File name | TaiO-stilt-house_6th-generation_02.JPG |
| Description | 「第六代棚屋」為2000年火災後重建，展現更現代化的設計與生活機能。此代棚屋普遍為兩層建築，牆體採用金屬或玻璃材質，結構穩固，並保有木梯與高腳基座等傳統特徵。屋頂設有露臺，常用於乘涼、晾衣，部分棚屋加裝遮陽棚或太陽能板，反映出對環保與生活品質的重視。外牆色彩鮮明，窗戶、冷氣與綠植等配置，展現家庭化與現代化兼具的生活樣貌。 The "6th generation stilt house" represents the modern reconstruction efforts following the 2000 fire. Typically two stories tall, these houses feature robust structures with metal or glass walls, while retaining traditional elements such as elevated wooden stilts and access ladders. Rooftop terraces are a distinctive feature, used for relaxation or drying clothes, with some equipped with sunshades or solar panels, reflecting environmental awareness and improved living standards. Bright exterior colors, windows, air conditioners, and potted plants contribute to a homey and contemporary atmosphere. |
| Embedded in the file | Bilingual title, date taken (28 April 2025), camera and lens |
| Original | 7,728 × 5,152 pixels, 19.2 MB |
| MD5 | d2513599f02f1f38ff1fcbf233fd317f (This is the file's digital fingerprint. If your download gives the same MD5, it is an exact copy.) |
Cite the collection:
CHEUNG, Siu Woo; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library, 2026, "Datasets for Between Sea and Field: Digital Preservation of Tai O Fishermen's Gallery and Santau Farm Life Gallery", https://doi.org/10.14711/dataset/MRLM8Q, DataSpace@HKUST, V1.
