Data Management in Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research Projects—Conclusions from the Digitalization of Research in Sustainable Manufacturing

Wei Wang,Tobias Göpfert,Rainer Stark

doi:10.3390/ijgi5040041

Abstract

As research topics become increasingly complex, large scale interdisciplinary research projects are commonly established to foster cross-disciplinary cooperation and to utilize potential synergies. In the case of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1026, 19 individual projects from different disciplines are brought together to investigate perspectives and solutions for sustainable manufacturing. Beside overheads regarding the coordination of activities and communication, such interdisciplinary projects are also facing challengs regarding data management. For exchange and combination of research results, data from individual projects have to be stored systematically, categorized, and linked according to the logical interrelations of the involved disciplinary knowledge domains. In the CRC 1026, the project for information infrastructure observed and analysed collaboration practices and developed IT-supported solutions to facilitate and foster research collaboration. Data management measures in this period were mainly focused on building a shared conceptual framework, and the organization of task related data. For the former aspect, an ontology basesd apporach was developed and prototypically implemented. For the latter aspect, a message board integrated task management system was developed and applied.

Highlights

Modern science is characterized by increasingly complex research fields that require the combination of knowledge from different disciplines [1]
The INF project focused on the development of methodological and technological support of communication and coordination activities within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) to facilitate this phase of exploration
Data management in this context especially requires the provision of shared workspaces for data exchange, the management of task related data, as well as the creation of a semantic foundation on a project wide level allowing for the linkage of disciplinary data

Summary

Introduction

Modern science is characterized by increasingly complex research fields that require the combination of knowledge from different disciplines [1]. The integration of different disciplinary perspectives requires an intense learning process to overcome cognitive distances between different disciplines [5]. At the beginning a shared vision has to be constructed which accommodates the different perspectives and determines their contributions for reaching a common goal Based on such thematic framework, knowledge can be purposefully exchanged, combined, and restructured to form a unifying conceptual framework defining the collaborative research field. Personality and cultural background may determine personal motivation for collaboration and influence perception and evaluation of collaboration incentives Environmental conditions such as funding schemes and reward systems may interfere with the willingness of institutions and individuals to engage in collaborative research activities. Interdisciplinary research means to orchestrate unique personalities from multiple institutions, diverse working cultures, and organizational structures in a shared environment, and steering their efforts through an evolutionary process towards a common goal [5,8,9]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion