RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT AND A SYSTEM DESIGN TO SEMI-AUTOMATICALLY COMPLETE INTEGRATED DATA MANAGEMENT PLANS [POSITION PAPER

Abstract

Data is an integral part of modern scientific work. Good research data management (RDM) and the communication of the related information is extremely an important matter. It is not only crucial for the ongoing research and its claims but also for the future uses of data. In recent years some guiding principles, e.g. FAIR principles and initiatives at the national and international level, e.g. NFDI, NFDI4Ing have also been founded to improve RDM. The data and its metadata are often handled in file system like structures which are versioned and logged. The information relating to the data handling are documented in data management plan (DMP). DMPs are also usually managed in similar file structures. These are made available in editable document formats as well as online free-text editable forms to which users are required to keep updating manually. These are isolated documents which have neither direct relation to data for verification nor are common to understand with consistency. In this paper, research data management of large-scale interdisciplinary projects is presented. On one hand it introduces, contemporary practices of RDM and on the other hand it helps researchers to determine the features of RDM system in the situations when it comes to select or develop a system for the same purpose. It further introduces a system design for semi-automatic completion of DMP functions in collaborative environment a.k.a. virtual research environment (VRE). It is assumed that the proposed system will assist and enable users to update semi-automatically integrated DMP during all phases of data life cycle. Direct relation to the data for verification, common understanding and consistency will also be maintainable.