MeCAT

Metadata management for neutron beam instrument data

Overview

Providing a metadata database and search service to the neutron beam science community allowing researchers to discover and exploit data collected by the neutron beam instruments at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Background

The Bragg Institute at ANSTO operates a number of neutron beamline instruments used to measure and study neutron scattering from various samples. The Bragg Institute provides a data repository, metadata database and data transfer services. The project is part of a broader initiative involving the Australian Synchotron.

This project enhances and combines these services into a collaboration environment which allows project teams to share their data with each other.

The project provides services so that researchers can manage their experimental data. For the broader research community, it provides search capabilities and access to publicly available data. This allows greater management of their data by researchers, and subsequent reuse by the broader research community. For the latter purpose, the metadata will be harvested by the Australian National Data Service (ANDS) and published in the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC).

Features

ANSTO now has a system with upgraded workflow, increased automation and improved access to the experimental data produced by the instruments. The system provides the following:

Storage

All data created while running experiments on ANSTO instruments can now be stored securely. Experimental data, along with its associated metadata, is stored in such a way to preserve the relationship with the original research proposal.

Access

Experimental data is associated with a particular Principal Investigator (PI). The PI now has secure access via the Internet to their experimental data and is able to manage access to this data. Typically there is a three-year embargo period placed on experimental data after its creation during which time only the PI and any collaborators identified by the PI can view and manipulate that data. After the embargo, experimental data is made available to other researchers.

Search Function

Users can search for all experimental data accessible by them. This includes data belonging to them and any publicly available data.

The project sheet is available here