Design and implementation of a web-based platform for biodiversity valorization data management: from process...

Research aimed to valorize biodiversity, such as studies based on phytochemical characterization and bioactivity assessment, produces wide and heterogeneous datasets in which data collection is often non-standardized. This paper presents the design and implementation of a web-based plant metabolite database platform specifically developed to support biodiversity valorization research within the activities of the National Biodiversity Future Center, with a focus on the analysis of the Italian flora. The platform was designed to manage plant species, biological samples, experimental metabolites, molecular information, bioactivity data, and spectrometry results within an integrated and structured data environment. The system development followed an advanced, agile, and process-oriented methodology with strong and continuous involvement of biologists (i.e., the final users), from the collection and analysis of process- and data-related requirements to database modeling, considering the integration of existing external public databases. Following this initial phase, the development of the user interface proceeded, enabling researchers to insert data, perform advanced queries, and analyze and visualize spectral data through a dedicated tool. The web application was evaluated using the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction, which received high ratings from domain experts. This work demonstrates how the integration of process modeling and database design can enhance the reproducibility and standardization of research aimed at the valorization of biodiversity.