Managing scientific metadata

TLDR

Metacat is a network‑enabled database framework that lets users store, query, and retrieve XML documents with arbitrary schemas in SQL‑compliant relational database systems. Metacat solves several key challenges that impede data confederation efforts in ecological research, or any field in which independent agencies collect heterogeneous data that they wish to control locally while enabling networked access. The system, available from the Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity, uses RDF‑like methods to package datasets, is extensible and flexible to preserve utility with future standards, and integrates with existing site infrastructures by working with any SQL‑compliant database system. The framework’s open‑source components are widely available, and individual sites can extend and customize the system to support their data and metadata needs.

Abstract

Metacat is a network-enabled database framework that lets users store, query, and retrieve XML documents with arbitrary schemas in SQL-compliant relational database systems. The system (available from the Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity, http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/) incorporates RDF-like methods for packaging data sets to allow researchers to customize and revise their metadata. It is extensible and flexible enough to preserve utility and interpretability working with future content standards. Metacat solves several key challenges that impede data confederation efforts in ecological research, or any field in which independent agencies collect heterogeneous data that they wish to control locally while enabling networked access. This distributed solution integrates with existing site infrastructures because it works with any SQL-compliant database system. The framework's open-source based components are widely available, and individual sites can extend and customize the system to support their data and metadata needs.