RUM/FILH: a standardized operational capability model for biodiversity databases

The increasing reliance of biodiversity research on large-scale databases has brought significant progress in data accessibility but also new challenges in data comparability, reliability, and interpretability. While global platforms, such as GBIF and iNaturalist standardize and disseminate vast quantities of biodiversity information, they cannot fully meet the needs of users relying on local or thematic data sources. In this paper, we propose a unified service capability model, the RUM/FILH model, that provides a transparent, comparable framework for describing database functionalities and data management quality. The RUM model distinguishes three essential data-related services: Read, Upload, and Modify, while the FILH extension integrates FAIR principles and data history accessibility. This combined system enables both users and database administrators to assess interoperability, metadata quality, and licensing conditions quickly and consistently. We demonstrate the applicability of the RUM/FILH model across biodiversity databases of different scales, including international aggregators and community-based platforms. The proposed capability model enhances trust, transparency, and collaboration across distributed data infrastructures, supporting the development of a more coherent and sustainable global biodiversity informatics network.