Research data management services for a multidisciplinary, collaborative research project: Design and implementation of the TR32DB project database

Research data management (RDM) comprises all processes, which ensure that research data are well-organized, documented, stored, backed up, accessible, and reusable. RDM systems form the technical framework. The purpose of this paper is to present the design and implementation of a RDM system for an interdisciplinary, collaborative, long-term research project with focus on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere data.

The presented RDM system is based on a three-tier (client-server) architecture. This includes a file-based data storage, a database-based metadata storage, and a self-designed user-friendly web-interface. The system is designed in cooperation with the local computing centre, where it is also hosted. A self-designed interoperable, project-specific metadata schema ensures the accurate documentation of all data.

A RDM system has to be designed and implemented according to requirements of the project participants. General challenges and problems of RDM should be considered. Thus, a close cooperation with the scientists obtains the acceptance and usage of the system.

This paper provides evidence that the implementation of a RDM system in the provided and maintained infrastructure of a computing centre offers many advantages. Consequently, the designed system is independent of the project funding. In addition, access and re-use of all involved project data is ensured. A transferability of the presented approach to another interdisciplinary research project was already successful. Furthermore, the designed metadata schema can be expanded according to changing project requirements.