The research data spring project "Collaboration for Research Enhancement by Active use of Metadata" slides for the third sandpit workshop. Project partners: University of Southampton: Simon Coles (Principal Investigator); Jeremy Frey; Colin Bird (Project Coordinator); Cerys Willoughby University of Edinburgh: Mike Mineter; Magnus Hagdorn University of the Arts London: Athanasios Velios; Iris Garrelfs Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC): Tom Griffin; Brian Matthews Nine by Nine: Graham Klyne

1. CREAM #3
METADATA MEANS MORE
CREAM identified a novel
concept – the active use of
metadata.
This requires researching
to understand.
We can now offer guidance
and prototype tools.
Data creation, visualisation,
analysis, integration.

2. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? WHERE’S THE
IMPACT?
Regrettab
ly typical
ELN entry
Link is
metadata
No
attempt
to find a
solution §
Potentiall
y active
metadata
§ New metadata value: http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.13860434.html

3. ACTIVE USE OF METADATA: GEOSMETA
EXAMPLE
Documents
[circles] hold
metadata for run
Active use:
Process chain
Active use:
Status change =>
No reuse
Files [squares] are
generated by a
run
Status:
Red => Error
Status:
Orange =>
Downstream of
error

4. ACHIEVEMENTS IN PHASES 1 AND 2:
• COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARTNERS  NEW COMMUNITY FORMED
• UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF TACIT AND MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN
MAKING DECISIONS INVOLVING THE ACTIVE USE OF METADATA
• RECOGNISING THE BROAD SCOPE FOR ACTIVE USE IN A VARIETY OF DOMAINS
• SCIENTISTS AND ARTISTS WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER
• EVOLVING A RELIABLE SHARED LANGUAGE (AKA GLOSSARY)
• EVOLVING A METHODOLOGY FOR CHARACTERISING ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL ACTIVE
USE
• ARTICULATING REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO SPECIFYING THE TOOLSET
• APPRECIATING IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON DATA
• INVESTIGATING TECHNIQUES FOR VISUALISING METADATA USAGE

5. CREAM GOAL: ENABLE, DURING A
PROJECT/TASK, COLLECTION AND USE OF
METADATA THAT INFORMS FUTURE DECISIONS
CREAM FOCUS: ENCOURAGE GATHERING OF METADATA
THROUGH EMPOWERING RESEARCHERS BY ITS ACTIVE
USE
• IN THE BEGINNING…
• IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING USE OF METADATA ACTIVELY
• DEVELOP A COMMON VOCABULARY / SCHEMA – USING
• PROVIDING EXEMPLARS TO PROMOTE AND ILLUSTRATE THE VALUE OF ACTIVE
METADATA
• As a result of this work, we find we now need…
• A framework to develop and support the concept
• Building communities that use and support the active use of metadata
• A Reliable Shared Language
• A toolset to support and enable identification, capture, manipulation and reuse of
metadata used actively

6. DELIVERING THE RELIABLE SHARED
LANGUAGE
• A TOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY IS REQUIRED
• A SEED: HTTPS://BLOG.SOTON.AC.UK/CREAM/GLOSSARY/

7. DELIVERING TOOLSETS: ASSEMBLE
(PROTOTYPES) TO:
• CAN BE APPLIED AT ANY SCALE IE AN INDIVIDUAL PIECE OF WORK OR ACROSS
ENTIRE PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES.
Capture
•Flexible tools to capture context and tacit information dynamically
Structure
•Generate structured interpretation of this information (ontologies)
Align
•Align vocabularies/terms from different sources: coherent view across overall process
Visualise
•View and pivot to generate/accommodate different perspectives
Share
•Make available in a form that can be consumed and built on

8. PATHS TO DELIVERY
RELIABLE SHARED LANGUAGE SOTON; UAL
TOOLSET STFC; 9X9;
SOTON
STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK STFC; 9X9;
SOTON;
FORMING CONCRETE COMMUNITIES UAL;
EDINBURGH
COORDINATION SOTON
COMMUNITY
GUIDANCEPROTOTYPES
CREA
M

9. FUNDING & SUSTAINABILITY
• RELIABLE SHARED LANGUAGE -> JISC
• TOOLSET (INCLUDING 3RD PARTY SOFTWARE) -> GITHUB
• DOCUMENTATION DELIVERABLES -> JISC REPOSITORY
• CONCRETE COMMUNITIES DELIVERABLE -> SEED THEIR FORMATION?
• BUILD ON PRESENCE AT IDCC16 (NOTABLY WORKSHOP)
• PROJECT PARTNERS WILL CARRY THIS INITIATIVE ON…
• EMBEDDING IN PARTNERS’ SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, COMMUNITIES, ETC
• ANNALIST INDEPENDENT

10. FURTHER DETAILS

11. • MUCH OF THE REAL DATA WE HAVE EXAMINED TENDS TO FOCUS
ON SPECIFIC ARTIFACTS USED BY INDIVIDUAL STEPS OF A PROCESS,
WITH A TENDENCY TO FOCUS ON VERY PROCESS-SPECIFIC
ATTRIBUTES.
• PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IS TO SEE THESE PROCESS
STEPS AND VALUES IN THE CONTEXT OF A WIDER PROCESS (OR
WORKFLOW?) COMPRISING A NUMBER OF STEPS, AND HOW THEY
INTERACT WITH DECISIONS MADE BY A PERSON CONTROLLING THE
PROCESS.
• THROUGH THIS, WE AIM TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW VALUES
RECORDED IN ONE STEP OF A PROCESS IMPACT THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF VALUES AND DECISIONS IN OTHER STEPS OF THE SAME

12. PROTOTYPES
• STFC LASERS FOR SCIENCE - IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION GENERATED ACTIVELY; EXTEND THE TOOLSET
AND ICAT TO SUPPORT.
• ECRYSTALS - REQUIRES WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH
SOFTWARE GENERATING THE DATA TO EXPORT IN-PROCESS
INFORMATION.
• GEOSMETA – DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ACTIVE USE , SO FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT WILL INCORPORATE CREAM PHILOSOPHY
• ‘SMOKE’ GETS IN YOUR ‘FOG’ – ACTIVE TRANSFER OF
KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE PROJECT TO ANOTHER; SUPPORT FOR