Abstract:

The Australian National Data Service (ANDS) has taken a national leadership role in implementing a national collaborative research information infrastructure strategy. The strategy is designed to build the eResearch capability of Australia’s researchers through national initiatives and strengthened engagement in international initiatives. With the objective of increasing the discoverability of Australian research data collections, ANDS is building the Research Data Australia (RDA) service. With the benefit of an ANDS grant to help populate the RDA, Griffith University has developed a framework for collecting and exposing research data.

The technical framework for the service is based on semantic web and cloud services. The system collects appropriate metadata from research collections within the University through customised feeds from the various University content management and corporate systems. This system then acts as a central University repository to feed information in a standard format to Research Data Australia. It can also expose this data to University library discovery tools and other research information federations where appropriate. The end result is that this service not only integrates and aggregates data within the institution but also provides a key link into national and international open systems.

In addition to facilitating connections between researchers by exposing research activity, the system creates individual “Researcher Profiles”, which is a valuable tool for prospective postgraduate students when selecting their preferred university and area of specialization. The integration of the metadata aggregator system with library discovery tools enhances the overall postgraduate information discovery experience.

This paper describes the project, including the underlying infrastructure and processes. It discusses the use of semantic web technology to aggregate key institutional research data, along with the importance of enhancing discoverability through integration with a variety of discovery tools. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the service supports the research discovery needs of postgraduate students.

Keywords:

Metadata, research infrastructure, discoverability, library discovery tool.