From the research vessel to the laboratory: Biosample Information Sytem at GEOMAR
Quick facts:
- Institution: GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel
- Data: Registration, analysis and management of biosamples from expeditions and experiments
- Our solution: Central, digital sample and storage management system
- Special features: Flexible and automated adaptation of the LinkAhead Crawler to changes in the data model
Mission: Protecting the oceans
The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is one of the leading institutions for marine research, investigating physical, chemical, biological and geological processes in the ocean. The main focus is on protecting the oceans and gaining a better understanding of current challenges such as climate change. GEOMAR uses research vessels to collect a wide range of biosamples for data collection. By implementing our LinkAhead software, the previously decentralized biosample management system was transformed into a fully digitalized, centrally organized biosample information system.
Automated workflow: from sample registration to archiving
Even before a research vessel sets sail, automated registration forms are created for optimal preparation of the sample collection. At sea, the researchers collect a large number of biosamples of plant and animal origin. The samples are registered and sample information such as location and time of sample collection is recorded in CSV tables. The LinkAhead Crawler takes over the synchronization of this data after the return.
Back in the GEOMAR laboratories, LinkAhead supports a high degree of flexibility in the research process: researchers can flexibly expand the data model in the web interface to capture unpredictable information. The LinkAhead Crawler can also process these extensions dynamically. In addition to all the flexibility, controlled vocabularies can be used for uniform sample cataloging.
LinkAhead also ensures structured inventory management, which makes each sample clearly traceable. If subsamples are created in the course of the analyses, these can be added and updated directly in the system, as can publication links or new storage locations.
Accessibility and reusability
With a clear web interface and intuitive search language, the LinkAhead-based Biosample Information System is easy to use in practice for scientists, technicians and data managers alike. The system’s connectivity to other data infrastructures and repositories, such as the Marine Data Portal and the Ocean Science Information System for Expeditions (OSIS), also ensures sustainable reuse of the collected data.