The digital research data infrastructure landscape comprises a myriad of tools for managing and sharing research data during various stages of the research data lifecycle. Such research tools vary widely depending on data type, user requirement, provider, and subject area. The diversity and variety of research tools can prove overwhelming and challenging for stakeholders working within the digital research data ecosystem to understand, navigate, and select the most appropriate tool to meet their needs and objectives. The categorisation of research tools, based on their features, functionalities and how they interoperate, remains unclear. In many cases, research tools are not interoperable, often leading to siloed working within organisations and disciplines, thereby limiting the scope of research and the ability to share and reuse data.

This RDA Working Group (WG), supported by Oracle for Research (OfR), was formed to address these challenges by: (i) categorising different types of research tools and mapping different types of research tools to the research data lifecycle based on their features and functionalities. During 14 months of operation, the WG has developed (i) a harmonised research data lifecycle and crosswalk to existing models, (ii) a categorisation schema of digital research tools commonly used in each phase of the research lifecycle; and (iii) an online tool to facilitate and explore mapping the digital research data infrastructure landscape. The group also prepared a report and recommendations for future work.

Over the 14 month period, the group held monthly WG meetings, as well as numerous interim meetings involving task groups and other small groups working on various aspects of the project. More than 60 people attended these meetings and participated in the development of the deliverables.

Deliverable 1: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zvnj_Dp7LwrjIqFn_MosSnhgBgszmhC-Pk1d2tZjmk4/edit|Deliverable 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pDQwTZHfpKv4U9ffypd21CQg4khxiVZsg-aKGA8x6V4/edit|Deliverable 3: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n8SB-Wn1F4NMC_jGgwPmveHpZ9u3eFZhNT1vDNzslIE/edit#heading=h.pumsdjdep354|Recommendation Package: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oGzQkfpwMbd56RufmYJYbwX6m7NuCUNt3XdF6Bj75eE/edit

At the time of writing (July 3), the SG is in the final stages of polishing the following deliverables for submission by July 15:

1. A harmonised research data lifecycle model and crosswalk to existing models (Deliverable 1).

2. A categorisation schema of digital research tools mapped to the harmonised research data
lifecycle model (called the MaLDReTH model) (Deliverable 2)

3. An online tool to facilitate and explore mapping the digital research data infrastructure landscape (Deliverable 3)

4. A report and recommendations for future work.

Links to these deliverables are provided in the Additional Links to Informative Material section below.

Upon completion the finalised deliverables will be submitted for Community Review.

The group is planning to submit an application for a follow on WG to continue work on the MaLDReTH Model. The follow on work will include: (i) Adding detailed categorisation of tools identified as being representative of each phase of the research lifecycle, e.g. are the tools open source or not, and are they interoperable with other tools; (2) collaboration with the GORC II WG to explore and develop synergies between the MaLDReTH model and the Tools and Services Element of the GORC model;,and (iii) exploring options for sustainability of the MaLDReTH model.

An application for RDA Tiger support for the new WG, called MaLDReTH II, was not approved, but the general concept was received favorably. The WG was encouraged to submit a revised application for RDA Tiger support for the follow on WG for the 31 August deadline, and in the revised application to provide more detail about MaLDReTH II’s proposed outputs. We are working with Ryan O’Connor from RDA Tiger to refine the output details, as requested, and will include those in the updated submission in time for the 31 August deadline. At the same time we are working on and will submit the application to establish the follow on WG.