Keller, Chigusa; Rüegg, Johanna; Schneidewind, Ulf; Armengot, Laura and Goldmann, Eva (2023) Challenges and approaches in data management of LTE trials in tropical field sites: Experiences from two trials in India and Bolivia. Paper at: Long Term Experiments: Meeting future challenges, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK, 20.-22. June 2023. [Completed]
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Summary in the original language of the document
Quality data is the key commodity of research projects. But with the size of a research project, number of parties involved and range of data collected, the complexity of data management increases significantly. In long-term experiments (LTE), continuity and comparability of collected data throughout the study duration is important but being challenged by personnel changes and development in infrastructure and technology, as well as changes to the trial itself. Managing a longterm trial remotely at field sites in the tropics adds another layer of challenges, including timely transfer of new data, time consuming pre-processing and validation of data between field and scientific staff, data literacy of local field staff and language barriers due to varying levels of English and local languages within the project team.
We share our challenges in data management and the strategies and tools used in the context of two LTE trials with field sites in India and Bolivia, managed by local partner organizations and coordinated by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Switzerland, highlighting the technical infrastructure in use, definition of responsibilities and workflows.
Our main considerations are a) finding a balance between data security, easy and timely sharing of data in both directions and minimising number of different data repositories and file versions, b) the use of simple, well-known tools that are flexible enough to consider (evolving) needs of different involved parties including field staff, and c) the importance of quick data availability for analysis to serve as a basis for decision making in trial management.
EPrint Type: | Conference paper, poster, etc. |
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Type of presentation: | Paper |
Keywords: | data management, long-term experiments, SysCom, Abacus, FiBL6524603, FiBL6524602, FiBL6516603 |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English data management http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9000179 English long-term experiments http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4f8733aa |
Subjects: | Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy |
Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics > Long-term experiments |
Related Links: | https://systems-comparison.fibl.org/index.html |
Deposited By: | Keller, Chigusa |
ID Code: | 51859 |
Deposited On: | 03 Nov 2023 13:28 |
Last Modified: | 13 Mar 2024 09:44 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Unpublished |
Refereed: | Not peer-reviewed |
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