BEXIS2: A FAIR-aligned data management system for biodiversity, ecology and environmental data

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity science
• Ecological research
• Environmental science

Background:

• Managing fragmented and heterogeneous biodiversity, ecology, and environmental data is challenging.
• The FAIR data principles emphasize secure storage and availability of research data, including raw data, metadata, and software.
• Standardized data management is crucial for modern research publication requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate BEXIS2, a web-based research data management system.
• To assess BEXIS2's alignment with the FAIR data principles for biodiversity and ecological research.
• To demonstrate BEXIS2's capability in supporting diverse research projects and organizational data management needs.

Main Methods:

• Developed BEXIS2 as a modular, extensible, and community-driven web-based system.
• Incorporated FAIR data principles into BEXIS2's design and functionality.
• Conducted a self-assessment of BEXIS2 using the FAIR Data Maturity Model indicators.

Main Results:

• BEXIS2 supports the complete data lifecycle, from design to dissemination and quality assurance.
• Self-assessment revealed strong conformance with FAIR data principles, particularly Findability and Accessibility.
• Interoperability is moderately supported with plans for improvement; Reusability is partially achieved.

Conclusions:

• BEXIS2 is a robust solution for mid- to large-scale biodiversity and ecological research data management.
• The system is customizable and extensible to meet diverse project requirements.
• Community deployment examples highlight BEXIS2's success in various research contexts.