This document discusses the concept of a shared research data management service. It outlines the need for interoperability between data storage, management plans, repositories, and other systems. Various institutional scenarios are presented, from those just starting research data management to those with some existing infrastructure. The vision is for a Jisc-provided shared cloud storage service integrated with publication and archiving functionality to help researchers easily manage the full data lifecycle. Potential technical solutions already exist that could be integrated to develop such a service. Stages of development, benefits, and timelines are proposed.

1. 20/08/2015 Shared Services for Research Data
Management

2. Overview
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 2
• RDM systems Architecture
• Institutional Scenarios
• Vision for shared service
• Concept for Jisc procured/provided shared service
• Benefits
• Timescales

3. 3
Top Level RDM Architecture
Shows need for interoperability and
transfers of data and metadata
between a number of systems and
services
• Data Storage (Active and Archive
• DMPs
• CRIS systems
• Repositories
• Data catalogues and registries
• External data centres
• National and International
aggregation and identifier
services
Credit for Architecture concepts: John Lewis
(Sheffield) & Stuart Lewis (Edinburgh)
http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.120223
0
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015

4. Institutional Scenarios
• Scenarios range from Greenfield (no RDM
infrastructure in place) to various brownfield scenarios
• Brownfield scenarios based on gaps within
architecture. Examples include:
• Institutions who may have established central active
data storage, but are lacking a publication platform,
data registry and archive storage.
• Institutions with a data repository, who may be
lacking active data storage options for researchers
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 4
Scenarios and requirements derived from architecture

5. Vision for Jisc provided shared service
Jisc could facilitate researchers cloud storage space
which can sync with their personal machines and
common workflows to store active research data and
allow sharing and collaboration between peers
Within this space allow easy functionality to publish and
archive research outputs fulfilling policy requirements
throughout the RDM lifecycle
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 5
Researchers shouldn’t need to think (too much!) about
Research Data Management

6. What a researcher should see
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 6
Familiar user friendly UI that links with workflows

7. What a researcher should see
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 7
Ingest to publication repository or archive – Minimal metadata

8. What a researcher should see
UK Research Data Store June 2015 8
Publication Page for ResearchObject (with DOI/Metrics etc)

9. What we need
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 9
Modules that seamlessly integrate with each other

10. Technology already exists
Active Data Storage and File syncing and sharing (OneDrive, Sharepoint
DropBox, Box, Owncloud, Institutional Storage etc.) Services that researchers
are used to as the base interface to store active data and use as access points
to publication/archival services
Publication/Archival Ingest UI (Figshare, Eprints, Zenodo other? In house?)
Repository Front End (Figshare, Eprints, UKRDDS etc.)
Archival Management / Long term Storage (Arkivum/Others)
Metadata Schema (From Research at Risk Metadata WP)
EEA based storage (AWS,Azure etc.)
Network (JANET)
LongTerm Preservation (Metadata and tools need specifying for RDM)
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 10
Don’t re-invent the wheel, join up technology that
already exists

11. Benefits
Meets policy requirements An easy way to meet funder’s requirements with little
effort from the institution
Network connecting with Janet means that data egress costs will be reduced or
negligible
Storage shared storage could be procured at cheaper rates
User Friendly many researchers are already familiar with the types of UI’s mentioned
Discoverability and Access Allows easy open access to research outputs if required
Aggregation allows for easy aggregation of UK research outputs to share globally
LongTerm Storage archived research objects are safely stored with multiple copies
Integration These systems already exist and are starting to integrate
LocalView System could be institutionally branded
Research Data Problem Eases RDM issues for the institutions where there isn’t the
capacity or desire to implement their own system
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 11

12. Timeline 2015-16

Jan
15
Mar
15
May
15
Jul 15
Sep
15
Nov
15
Jan
16
Mar
16
May
16
Jul 16
Sep
16
Nov
16

USAGE STATISTICS FOR
RESEARCH DATA
RESEARCH DATA
MANAGEMENT SHARED
SERVICE
SHARED SERVICES IN THE
PRESERVATION &
CURATION GAP
Shared Services & Infrastructure
Medium priorityHigh priority
Early consultation ProcurementSurvey
Requirements refinement workshop
Outline RDM architecture Early adopters engaged
Beta Business case
Shared service
Early intelligence gathering Requirements defined
Scope
Prototype with IRUS software Service design Business case
BetaConsultative group established
Input to COUNTER
Service
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015

13. Proposed Stages?
1st Stage: fully Jisc provided/procured/hosted system
2nd Stage: Jisc offer modules or national agreements to fill
architecture gaps in existing systems
• Jisc require feedback from the community and will consult
before and after an October event with preceeding
publication of shared services concepts
• If there is community agreement Jisc will begin
procurement/development
• To take these concepts forward volunteer pilot institutions
to work up detailed requirements and develop/test the
service in partnership will be needed.
Shared Services For Research Data Management July 2015 13

14. Find out more…
Thank you!
Email: rachel.bruce@jisc.ac.uk
John.kaye@jisc.ac.uk
Twitter:rachelbruce
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND