A Research Data Repository for UP

Posted on September 01, 2018

Over the last number of years, the management of research data has been highlighted in articles, books, conference papers, workshops, web sites and other fora as essential to ensure that it is secure and accessible for further research. In addition, national and international funders, academic publishers and other related organisations have increasingly started to mandate the management of research data in a systematic and transparent manner. To address this, the University of Pretoria released a Research Data Management Policy (S 4417/17) in September 2017 (Available on the University of Pretoria (UP) Intranet). This policy clearly stipulates the procedures and roles and responsibilities related to Research Data Management (RDM) at UP.

To adhere to the requirements of the UP RDM Policy, the UP RDM Steering Committee (consisting of members from the UP Departments of Library Services, IT Services, and Research Innovation, two academic researchers, and the Vice Principal for Research and Innovation) investigated a number of repository platforms (open source and proprietary) which could be implemented as a data repository system for UP. Repository platforms were evaluated according to functional, technical and other non-functional criteria such as cost.

After two rounds of investigations, the software platform Figshare was selected and approved. Figshare is a web-based data repository system, that can be used to showcase/disseminate research data generated by our institution’s researchers. Files of any type can easily be uploaded onto the system, metadata schemas can be customised, and the system can generate Digital Object Identifiers (DOI’s) for each item. File versioning and licensing of files are also possible. The system has very efficient data curation and administrative workflows and has a good reporting system with metrics that showcase the number of times a record has been shared, viewed, downloaded and cited. In addition, Figshare comes with the ability to make files either private or public, as required. Flexible storage options are also available. The plan is to store UP’s research data on its own storage facility, but as a start Figshare will provide some storage space in the Amazon Cloud (Amazon S3). The system also includes collaborative spaces where researchers can collaborate on a project. Figshare furthermore, has a powerful Programming Application Interface (API) that enables interaction and integration with other systems, such as the institutional repository, ORCID, research information systems, electronic lab notebooks and other research instruments.

The platform is currently being implemented, and as part of the implementation, the system is being tested with a number of pilot groups. Once the testing is completed, the new UP data repository, will officially be launched. It is foreseen that the launch will take place in the first half of 2019.

- Author Dr Johann van Wyk

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