Why We Need a Reference Architecture for Research Data

There is little doubt that we have entered an era where data underpins modern science and research in general. In support of this, numerous infrastructures have been designed and built, ranging from proprietary on-prem systems through to distributed commercial clouds. Such implementations provide a range of functions during the research lifecycle from provisioning and cataloguing data assets through to storing and presenting data to computing platforms. In this paper we analyse the underlying principles of such systems and develop a high-level Research Data Reference Architecture (RDRA). Specifically, we identify eight key features of a RDRA that can guide the design, construction, and procurement of implementations without mandating any domain, approach, technical solution, or product choice. As a result, it allows implementers to make local and commercial decisions while still meeting the core requirements of a research data management platform. The intended audience is teams charged with implementing infrastructure in research organizations.