Framework for considering data infrastructure and interconnectivity

"Data infrastructure is a central enabler of many large-scale national and international projects and collaborations. Exponential growth in scale and complexity of research data from major experimental and observational research facilities is occurring in tandem with rapid advancements in computing and data technologies that have made it easier to access, interlink, interact with, and analyze research data. Major federal initiatives such as the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource and National Strategic Computing Reserve, as well as federal goals for open science and public access, necessitate new levels of coordination on scientific data and infrastructure. Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) data infrastructure practitioners, RDI managers, and federal sponsors thus face challenges when planning, deploying, and operating data systems and services that can keep pace with evolving scientific needs and technology advancements. There are many variables to address, and since RDIs are typically developed independently of one another, the resulting data solutions can be quite different from one another—which can hinder broader interoperability.

This report aims to raise awareness of the importance of comprehensive planning for RDI data infrastructure. This report offers an actionable approach in the form of common framework with key questions that practitioners, managers, and sponsors should ask when planning, developing, operating, and upgrading data infrastructure and interconnectivity (see summary box below). The report further identifies current cross-cutting challenge areas for RDI data infrastructure that would benefit from collective federal and community discussion and action. An ultimate aim is to facilitate partnering and collaboration on sharing and interoperability of RDI data and infrastructure towards maximizing overall scientific impact and benefit to the U.S. scientific enterprise...."