Central data management in environmental research projects – selected problems and solutions

Abstract

Collection and provision of all data, which may differ in spatial and time scales, and ensuring their long-term availability and readability are the primary goals of a central data management in a research project. One approach is setting up a central information system, which visualizes the manifold data of all subprojects in a uniform format and makes them publicly available. The setup and the successful operation of an information system faces technical and thematic challenges. The information system is based on a classic client/server-architecture. Several routine tasks of the data management are managed by the Open Source Content- Management-System (CMS) TYPO3. This has proved to be a good tool to improve effectively interdisciplinarity and exchange of research results. This paper introduces the concept as well as the system architecture of the central data management of the interdisciplinary research project ”Land use concepts for peripheral regions” (SFB 299) supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which is now in its 12th year of funding. Several adaptations of the data-base concept as well as customizations of system components and functions for visualization and analyses are discussed. The adaptations have become necessary due to technical or thematic aspects. Elementary problems of data management are shown and different approaches are discussed and in conclusion evaluated in respect to each other.