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Description :
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The GTL Enterprise is the coordinated operation of GTL science programs and the enabling knowledgebase. Two major functions of the science programs are to provide requirements for GTL Knowledgebase (GKB) creation, maintenance, and operation and to establish the needed data and information that the knowledgebase would commensurately supply. GTL science programs also provide the research community with the resources to use and contribute to the knowledgebase. Furthermore, these programs would supply data and information inputs to the GKB and perform analyses resulting in the output of knowledge sought by GTL. Information from other databases also would be incorporated into the knowledgebase as needed. GTL science programs emphasize systems biology approaches to fundamental scientific challenges in bioenergy, carbon cycling, and contaminant fate and transport. These programs also pursue a variety of other research objectives described in this report and produce diverse data, including those resulting from genomic analyses and accompanying global omic information. Also produced are various types of imaging data; information on the spatial and temporal scales of systems studied; results from modeling experiments; measurements of physiology, function, and the environment; and provenance data for documenting the results of analyses. Analyses conducted by GTL science programs include those that are comparative as well as queries and simulation experiments. Design features and requirements envisioned for the GTL Knowledgebase (see figure) involve system architecture; provision for heterogeneous data and metadata; data-integration capacity; intuitive user elements; various assets such as computational hardware in multiple locations; tools; quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) capabilities; communication among data providers, integrators, and users; and other GKB services. The resultant knowledgebase and its infrastructure would be a cooperative endeavor between the biological research community and computational and information scientists who would establish physical GKB assets, required tools, data repositories, appropriate communications capabilities, services, expert personnel, appropriate resources for users, and standards and practices for data providers and users. Knowledgebase developers will create a governance model outlining oversight; operational requirements; and the roles, responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities for users and those maintaining and operating the GKB. Accompanying these components of knowledgebase management (e.g., standards and processes, QC/QA protocols, program staff, and resources and funding), the GTL program will provide GKB operational requirements, oversight, and resources for research programs and will define the roles, responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities (R2A2) of the GKB community. |
