Abstract
JAMSTEC publicly distributes samples and data obtained by
JAMSTEC-AORI-JURCAOS Cooperative Research Cruises [1], as well as
those by JAMSTEC private/open-call cruises, through online database (DB)
websites, for additional uses with research/educational purposes. These
online DBs are, from a long-term perspective, under a process of
reorganization and integration: Public-level information systems for
rock and sediment core samples were integrated into DARWIN DB [1] in
FY2017. As for marine biological samples, whose information has been
mainly distributed through “Marine Biological Sample DB [3], a part
of information is already shared with DARWIN to utilize its search/map
functions. DB integration is in progress for not only public-level but
also management-level information system, which are operated by sample
holders responsible for storage of physical samples. In FY2018, JSDB
(JAMSTEC Sample Management Database) is installed for the management of
JAMSTEC rock, sediment core and biological samples, and actual data was
transferred into this new system in FY2019. For rock and sediment core
samples, information forwarding from management-level system (JSDB) to
public-level system (DARWIN) is planned to be established in the near
future. JSDB consists of data tables for sample matadata information for
onboard sampling activities, sample archive information for status and
storage of physical samples, associate data information for various data
obtained for samples, literature information for published documents,
sample distribution information for service logs for sample requests.
User authorization includes group setting, enabling individual sample
holders outside Data Management Office to read, create and modify the
information in an appropriate manner, although the DB is only accessible
from inside JAMSTEC because of security reasons. Associate data
information is supposed to include various data types, such as
photos/images, text-based descriptions, spread-sheets and URLs etc., and
open/close status control and group-setting are available for individual
entries. Information for research proposals/projects or other data
management issues, which should be associated with multiple samples, can
also be managed as associated data information. For the future
possibility of involvement with IGSN, sample metadata entries and their
vocabulary are reorganized to follow the IGSN Descriptive Metadata
[4], as much as possible. Peoples involved in sample and data
management tend to spend much effort for dealing with unusual
conditions/situations which are not originally expected. Robustness is
important for design/operation of information systems, because lack of
flexibility and too much complexity of information systems are frequent
causes of such kind of problems. [1]
https://www.aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/coop/ [2]
http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/ [3]
http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/bio-sample/ [4]
https://www.geosamples.org/metadata