The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management
Abstract
We introduce the web interface of the ZMT DataPortal, a cutting-edge collaboration between IndiScale GmbH and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT). We highlight the portal’s powerful features designed to streamline data discovery and access, and how it offers a unified, searchable database that connects datasets published by ZMT researchers, no matter where they are stored. Whether housed on ZMT's internal servers (ZMT DataCloud) or in public data repositories like PANGAEA, the DataPortal provides a comprehensive, cross-platform view of available research data. It is powered by LinkAhead, the open-source data management system developed by IndiScale, which ensures seamless data integration and accessibility.
Full text
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 17. Oktober 2025 The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management FAIR IN ACTION 2025 Integrating Open Source RDM-Tools Effectively
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 2 17. Oktober 2025 Outline •Who are we? Research Data Management at ZMT •The ZMT DataPortal •Getting Metadata into the Portal •Summary •Questions and Discussion
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 3 17. Oktober 2025 Research Data Management at the ZMT The ZMT - An Interdisciplinary Research Institute Reefs off Lombok, Indonesia | Photo: Pia Kegler Mangroves in La Paz, Mexico | Photo: Martin Zimmer •research on (sub)tropical coastal ecosystems •close collaboration with partners in tropical countries •scientific basis for protection and sustainable use of tropical coastal ecosystems transand interdisciplinary research heterogenous data = challenges for RDM
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 4 17. Oktober 2025 Some of the Challenges Related to Data •heterogenous datasets •no complete overview of (historical) datasets •demand: internal sharing of institutional datasets (published or unpublished) Research Data Management at the ZMT The Research Data Service Research Data Service Group Leader Research System Engineer Data Manager (Natural + Social Sciences) Other Support Staff Geodata Specialist
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 5 17. Oktober 2025 Research Data Management at the ZMT Diverse Data in Diverse Repositories Published ZMT Data Unpublished ZMT Data (ongoing / finished projects) PANGAEA Paper Supplements ZMT DataCloud Zenodo, ENA, NCBI, … External Data (planned)
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 6 17. Oktober 2025 •showcase extensive research data available at ZMT, including metadata & relevant links •enable and encourage new research collaborations •integration with external data providers for broader access •highlight vital role of research data in advancing marine ecosystem studies ZMT DataPortal Objectives
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 7 17. Oktober 2025 •click dataset number → view metadata (listed individually) •metadata includes key dataset properties → readily accessible •user interface and navigation guide for ZMT DataPortal → here ZMT DataPortal Navigation, User Interface and Data Search
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 8 17. Oktober 2025 Getting Metadata into the Portal Overview Metadata Mapping & Sharing PANGAEA ZMT DataCloud Single Point of Access (internal & external view) ZMT DataPortal Other General or Discipline-specific Repositories Published Data Internal and External Data External Data Providers PANAGEA crawler Zotero & custom program Internal crawler
Helen Clara George, Finn Opätz The ZMT DataPortal - Integrating LinkAhead in Institutional Data Management 9 17. Oktober 2025 Getting Data into the Portal LinkAhead “PANGAEA Crawler” – Automatic Crawling •PANGAEA Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science •most used repository for ZMT data publications •challenge: identification of ZMT datasets •internal data curator https://www.indiscale.com https://www.pangaea.de