Merge branch 'use-case-datahub' into 'master'

Use Case DataHub Earth and Environment

See merge request !597

_posts/2022/2022-10-04-use-case-datahub.md

+---
+title: "Gitlab for Require­ments analysis at Earth Data Portal"
+title_image: globe.jpeg
+data: 2022-10-04
+authors:
+  - klaffki
+layout: blogpost
+additional_css:
+  - image-scaling.css
+categories:
+  - Use-Case
+tags:
+  - Earth & Environment
+  - Helmholtz Codebase
+  - nubes
+  - Mattermost
+  - Notes
+  - Consulting
+  - Education
+excerpt: >
+    Within the DataHub of the Research Field Earth & Environment, an Earth Data Portal is being developed.
+    This portal will serve as a central access point for searching and exploring data and thematic ressources from the research field.
+    Missing features and functionalities were identified during a requirement analysis, for which the developers made use of the HIFIS Codebase.
+    This proved to be an efficient workflow that will be further developed and used in similar projects.
+---
+
+## Data for the Earth System
+
+<div class="floating-boxes">
+<div class="image-box align-right">
+<img
+class="right medium nonuniform"
+alt="DataHub logo"
+src="{% link assets/img/posts/2022-10-04-datahub/datahublogo.svg %}"
+/>
+</div>
+<div class="text-box" markdown="1">
+
+The [DataHub](https://datahub.erde-und-umwelt.de/en/) of the Research Field [Earth and Environment](https://www.helmholtz.de/en/research/research-fields/earth-and-environment/) is a research data initiative across the seven centres of the Helmholtz Programme [Changing Earth - Sustaining our Future](https://earthenvironment.helmholtz.de/changing-earth/program/). Within its three compartemental Hubs ATMO, MARE and TERRA, it aims at the development of a distributed and interoperable research data infrastructure as well as operational procedures and data products for the whole Research Field and the Earth System Sciences in general.
+
+In this context, the DataHub is responsible for implementing state-of-the-art policies, tools and best-practices particularly in the fields of research data management (RDM) and research software development across all participatng centres. It hence contributes to the fullfilment of the [FAIR principles](https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/) (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) and fosters open science in the Research Field Earth and Environment.
+
+One of the main objectives of the DataHub is the joint development of thematic viewers, through which products and information from the participating centres are presented to end-users from the scientific, economic, and governmental sectors. As an example, the so-called [Stakeholer-View](https://datahub.erde-und-umwelt.de/en/) integrates prominent and widely-used products like the [German Drought Monitor](https://datahub.erde-und-umwelt.de/en/s/drought) or the [Global Earthquake Viewer](https://datahub.erde-und-umwelt.de/en/s/earthquakes).
+
+
+## Making use of HIFIS Software and in-person Services
+As such an initiative requires dedicated tools and services for an efficient and productive collaboration across several research centres, the DataHub has been one of the first adopters of the HIFIS-services:
+- The exchange of documents, presentations, protocols and other files is conducted through the HIFIS Nextcloud service [nubes](https://helmholtz.cloud/services?serviceDetails=svc-fa7ffed8-ea57-4a14-b6bd-abd46bcec6c5).
+- [Mattermost](https://cloud.helmholtz.de/services?serviceDetails=svc-1be91786-b7e7-4fa3-81d9-1b95dd03cd52) is used for inter-institutional communication via private or dedicated team and group chats
+- Collaborative notes and protocols are developed within the Markdown editor [Notes](https://cloud.helmholtz.de/services?serviceDetails=svc-cea6f848-b46b-4340-92fe-17da42a78829).
+- The HIFIS GitLab Instance [Codebase](https://gitlab.hzdr.de/users/sign_in) serves as a central and widely adopted framework for collaborative software development.
+- The seamless and transparent usage of all these services is realized through HIFIS' central Authentication and Authorisation Infrastructure [Helmholtz AAI](https://aai.helmholtz.de)
+
+Apart from those software services, the DataHub is heavily promoting trainings through [HIFIS Education](https://hifis.net/services/software/training) for collaborative software development via GitLab and other fundamental [software engineering skills](https://events.hifis.net/category/4/) as well as consultation and support for software licensing issues through the [Software Engineering Consulting](https://www.hifis.net/services/software/consulting.html).
+
+
+## Earth Data Portal
+One major DataHub project is the joint development of an Earth Data Portal. This portal will serve as a central access point for searching and exploring data and thematic ressources from the research field Earth & Environment and beyond. This will be realized by tailor-made harvesting and mapping from a wide range of existing data archives and repositories like [Pangaea](https://www.pangaea.de), the [World Data Center for Climate](https://www.wdc-climate.de) at the [DKRZ](https://www.dkrz.de/de) or [RADAR4KIT](http://radar.kit.edu) as well as institutional repositories into a single portal infrastructure. The technical basis for the portal is the well-established [Marine Data Portal](https://marine-data.de/), which is now enhanced by community-driven functionalities.
+
+### Using GitLab Issues in requirements analysis
+
+<div class="floating-boxes">
+<div class="image-box align-left">
+<img
+class="left large nonuniform"
+style="border 2px solid #005AA0"
+alt="Screenshot of the feature request template"
+src="{% link assets/img/posts/2022-10-04-datahub/Screenshot_FeatureIntegration.png %}"
+/>
+</div>
+<div class="text-box" markdown="1">
+
+The missing features and functionalities for a data portal covering the entire research field were identified during a requirement analysis, for which the developers made use of the HIFIS Codebase. In particular, by providing dedicated and well-defined [issue templates](https://gitlab.hzdr.de/help/user/project/description_templates.md#description-templates) for *feature requests* and *data / repository integration*, a clear and consistent structure is realized so that both the users and developers can easily add their suggestions, requirements and wishes.
+
+The *feature request template* comes with a brief user story, in which a typical use case for a specific feature or functionality is described (e.g., I want to search for all environmental data in a certain region). By adding a set of pre-defined acceptance criteria, both the developers and the creator of the request can check the status of the feature implementation and close the request once all criteria are met.
+
+The *data integration template* contains pre-defined tasks for providing all needed information like data sources (e.g., through a link to a repository), applied metadata schemas, interfaces as well as information about the data license. This, finally, allows for a convenient and efficient integration of new repositories and other data sources.
+
+Overall, the developed requirement analysis via the HIFIS Codebase has proven to be an efficient workflow that will be further developed and used in similar projects.
+
+
+## Get in contact
+For the Earth and Environment DataHub:
+[Peter Braesicke](mailto:peter.braesicke@kit.edu) (KIT), [Jan Bumberger](mailto:jan.bumberger@ufz.de) (UFZ), [Sören Lorenz](mailto:slorenz@geomar.de) (GEOMAR)
+
+For the DataHub Portal:
+[Marc Hanisch](mailto:marc.hanisch@gfz-potsdam.de) (GFZ), [Tilman Dinter](mailto:Tilman.Dinter@awi.de) (AWI), [Roland Koppe](mailto:roland.koppe@awi.de) (AWI), [Robin Heß](mailto:robin.hess@awi.de) (AWI), [Christof Lorenz](mailto:christof.lorenz@kit.edu) (KIT)
+
+For HIFIS: [HIFIS Support](mailto:support@hifis.net)