Cat4KIT - A cross-institutional data catalog framework for the FAIRification of environmental research data

The objective of the Cat4KIT project is to create a cross-institutional catalog and research data management system that will enhance the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) principles of environmental research data. The framework comprises four distinct modules, each assigned with certain tasks.

(1) Facilitating the availability of data on storage systems via clearly defined and standardized interfaces.

(2) The process of harvesting and creating (meta)data into uniform and standardized representations.

(3) Facilitating the public accessibility to (meta)data by the utilization of well defined and standardized catalog services and interfaces, so ensuring consistency and uniformity.

(4) Allowing users to efficiently search, apply filters, and navigate through data obtained from decentralized research data infrastructures.

Every module is created and executed in an inter-institutional cooperation consisting of scientists, software developers, and possible end-users. This methodology guarantees the versatility of our framework, allowing it to be applied to many types of research data, including multi-dimensional climate model outputs and high-frequency in-situ measurements.