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OSTrails Interoperability Framework

Plan, Track, and Assess
FAIR Digital Objects

Researchers use many different tools on their way to publish research. Research data management involves dozens of tools that don't talk to each other. OSTrails provides three interoperability frameworks so that DMP platforms, knowledge graphs, and FAIR assessment tools can work together seamlessly.

The OSTrails Reference Architecture defines how DMPs, SKGs, and FAIR assessments interact within and across their own domains.

Related Documentation

Related Outputs

OSTrails Interoperable design

Our solution

Today: Fragmented landscape

80+ tools across Europe for DMPs, knowledge graphs, and FAIR assessment. Each built independently, with custom integrations needed every time two tools need to exchange data.

With OSTrails: Interoperable by design

Three frameworks that harmonise information exchange via standard APIs, without dictating internal software architecture. Services communicate via a shared Commons, preventing vendor lock-in.
Core Philosophy

Harmonising Research Data Management

Interchangeability

Tools are modular. An SKG can be swapped without breaking the DMP workflow. Any FAIR tool conforming to the FAIR-IF can be swapped in.

Flexibility

The frameworks harmonise information exchange (APIs) without dictating an internal software architecture. Each platform evolves independently.

Automation

Machine-actionable exchange means repositories can automatically update DMPs, trigger FAIR assessments, and push metadata to knowledge graphs.
The Foundation

User Pathways

Mapping the complex mesh of interactios in Research Data Management

The "Publish Data" pathway

A concrete example of how the three frameworks work together when a researcher publishes data.

Upload: Researcher uploads data to a Repository

The researcher deposits data and adds metadata in the repository. The repository and SKG are interconnected exchanging standardized metadata, with the repository providing descriptions of research outputs and the SKG enriching and linking them using PIDs.

Track: Repository asks SKG for cross-references

Via the SKG API, the repository retrieves related publications, datasets, and authors to enrich the record.

Assess: Repository triggers FAIR check

Via the FAIR-IF API, the repository requests an automated FAIRness assessment. The tool runs tests and returns a standardised result set.

Plan: Repository updates the DMP automatically

Via the maDMP API, the repository adds the new dataset to the DMP, links it to the assessment results, and sends metadata to the SKG. The researcher's DMP stays current without manual effort.

Reference architecture

Four architectural components

The architecture is not arbitrary. It is derived from analysing real user pathways across 38+ tools and services. Each component communicates through the standardised APIs defined by the interoperability frameworks.

OSTrails Interoperable design

The framework

Three interoperability frameworks

The Interoperability Frameworks (IFs) are the technical and semantic glue. They cover how systems work together despite different underlying technologies, without prescribing internal software architecture.

DMP-IF

Standardises planning

Focused on maDMP exchange. Enables DMP platforms to produce machine-actionable plans and share them via a standard API. Related Documentation

Explore DMP-IF

SKG-IF

Standardises tracking

Focused on graph interconnectivity. Links research activities, and outputs using trusted platforms and repositories to search for datasets or fetch metadata via PIDs through a standard SKG API.                     Related Documentation

Explore SKG-IF

FAIR-IF

Standardises assessment

Focused on assessment outputs. Applies tests to Digital Objects and returns a standardised FAIR Test Result Set, regardless of which tool is used.                                          Related Documentation 

Explore FAIR-IF

The OSTrails Commons

A modular, open ecosystem

The goal is to create a Commons where services communicate via standard APIs, preventing vendor lock-in and fostering an open ecosystem. Services can adopt the frameworks incrementally, moving from fragmented tools to interconnected Commons.

DMP Commons

RDA DMP Common Standard, OSTrails Application Profile, maDMP API, maDMP Mappings.

SKG Commons

Core Data Model (6 entities), Extensions, schema Mappings, common SKG API.

FAIR Commons

FTR Vocabulary, FAIRassist registry, Test and Scoring Catalogues, Assessment API.

Cross-cutting resources

Crosswalks between data models, documentation, compliance checking, and governance.
Explore the full OSTrails Commons