The openBIS Digital Platform for Instrumentation and Data Workflow in the Analytical Laboratory

Abstract

The management of scientific data plays a key role in all research areas and has increased in importance. Providing researchers with customizable data management tools is crucial for effectively managing data according to the FAIR principles. These principles have been defined by Wilkinson et al. in 2016, which describe how scientific data should be managed.^[1] To support the specific needs of researchers at Empa, openBIS^[2] was chosen as a FAIR compliant data management platform. OpenBIS is an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) developed at ETH. The commissioning of this platform for the case of an analytical chemistry lab presented multiple challenges. In this paper, solutions to adapt openBIS as a digital platform to integrate the laboratory data workflow in chemical analysis and for spectroscopy instruments are presented. Two laboratory projects as case studies are described, consisting of a data pipeline and a complex dashboard for data collection, visualization and interaction. These examples show a successful integration of the data management platform in accordance with the FAIR data guidelines along with maximizing efficiency for laboratory personnel.