Laboratory Notebook and Database - a RDM Marketplace pilot project

Description

Abstract (English)

Concept

The main idea is to collect, manage, store, analyse and reuse results from material testing processes in the laboratory. Creating a scientific body that supports transparency and reusability in the research and publication process is mandatory. Therefore, a well-structured and accessible data structure that supports data aggregation and data analysis is needed.

Rationale

In our material testing laboratory, we got plenty of different tests done by approx. 30 different persons. The data gathered becomes stored and managed using many different software tools and devices. Workflows for accredited tests are already implemented and managed by our quality management system. Workflows for scientific testing are managed by the scientific staff individually for each use case. Currently, it is tough to analyse data across different projects, find and reuse test results gathered long ago, and derive statistical information from existing test procedures and results.

Objectives

In the first approach, we want to develop and implement a material database and client to collect and manage information on material and sample properties (experimental results) as a basis for further aggregation and analysis tools that are already in use or will be developed in the future. Furthermore, we will evaluate existing software tools for their abilities and features to represent structured laboratory process workflows and the data gained from those processes. Using and enhancing eLabFTW notebooks or similar features seem to be a promising starting point for that approach (add-ons for SQL database support and automated small analysis routines).

Table of contents (English)

Contents of archives

• presentation.zip ... presentation slides for different events (meetings, bar camps)
• development.zip ... user-interface and database structure development
• project_management ... project management workshop, presentation slides and flipchart protocol
• graphics.zip ... project overview, graphical abstract
• proposal_reports ... project proposal, interim report, final report

Technical info (English)

Laboratory Notebook and Database is a database-driven web-application based on the Django web-framework.

Software stack

• PostgreSQL (database)
• Apache Webserver (reverse proxy)
• gunicorn (WSGI enabled web-server)
• Django (web development framework)
• Debian 10 (operating system)