Solutions for Data Sharing and Storage: A Comparative Analysis of Data Repositories

Abstract

Research data management is an essential process in scientific research activities. It includes monitoring data from the moment it is created until it is deposited in a repository so that later it can be accessed and reused by others. Sharing and reuse are the last steps in this process. It is essential to ensure that the data stored in digital repositories is well preserved in the long term and that its adequate interpretation and future reuse is guaranteed. Following this debate, questions arise related to the interoperability of systems and the suitability of platforms. In this study, we study how data management platforms can solve the problems associated with description, preservation, and access in digital media, making their usefulness evident. We identify some of the most relevant repository platforms in the scope of research data management, offering the scientific community an aggregating view of the various solutions and their main characteristics, thus aiming at a better understanding of them for their appropriate choice.