Towards Defect Phase Diagrams: From Research Data Management to Automated Workflows

TL;DR

This paper presents an integrated research data management system that streamlines data collection, metadata extraction, and analysis workflows to facilitate the construction of defect phase diagrams from heterogeneous experimental and simulation data.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive RDM infrastructure combining openBIS with new tools for automated metadata extraction and federated data access, enhancing data reproducibility and reuse.

Findings

Enables seamless integration of diverse research data sources.

Automates metadata extraction from proprietary formats.

Accelerates defect phase diagram construction across institutions.

Abstract

Defect phase diagrams provide a unified description of crystal defect states for materials design and are central to the scientific objectives of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1394. Their construction requires the systematic integration of heterogeneous experimental and simulation data across research groups and locations. In this setting, research data management (RDM) is a key enabler of new scientific insight by linking distributed research activities and making complex data reproducible and reusable. To address the challenge of heterogeneous data sources and formats, a comprehensive RDM infrastructure has been established that links experiment, data, and analysis in a seamless workflow. The system combines: (1) a joint electronic laboratory notebook and laboratory information management system, (2) easy-to-use large-object data storage, (3) automatic metadata extraction from heterogeneous and proprietary file formats, (4) interactive provenance graphs for data exploration and reuse, and (5) automated reporting and analysis workflows. The two key technological elements are the openBIS electronic laboratory notebook and laboratory information management system, and a newly developed companion application that extends openBIS with large-scale data handling, automated metadata capture, and federated access to distributed research data. This integrated approach reduces friction in data capture and curation, enabling traceable and reusable datasets that accelerate the construction of defect phase diagrams across institutions.