The ZivaHub: Open Data UCT repository exists to make UCT research data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). To find out how to make your data FAIR using ZivaHub please consult the following guide.
FAIR data is facilitated by the use of Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) for each data item published on the repository. DOI’s are minted from the minimum required metadata for each ZivaHub publication using the Datacite metadata schema, which is Schema.org JSON-LD compliant, for the publication and citation of research data.
ZivaHub metadata is made available through the user interface, a REST API and OAI-PMH. ZivaHub metadata is exposed to search engines and is brokered through external indexing systems such as DataCite, CORE, OpenAire & OpenDOAR.
Data Curators in UCT Libraries, supported by a network of subject experts known as Data Stewards, further encourage FAIR use by reviewing deposited data files and submitted metadata. Files depositors are encouraged to use open and/or interoperable file formats and to include ‘Readme’ files to assist with reusability. Metadata submissions are reviewed for completeness, conciseness and relevance to make the data easier to find for relevant uses. Data items are only published after they pass the curation review process.
Items published on ZivaHub are further enhanced by the References and Resource fields available in the metadata schema. References is a repeatable field that can contain a URL or DOI to any other online resource that may contribute to the use or understanding of the data set. Resource Title & Resource DOI are fields that are available to link to the specific article or publication for which the data set was published, allowing users to further increase their understanding of the data.
ZivaHub allows versioning of published records. This allows depositors to update metadata, add new references or resources, and add new file formats to items. Versioning is tracked via the items DOI, with the latest version being displayed, and all previous versions still being available through a drop-down selector.
Secure storage maintains the integrity of data published on ZivaHub. Integrity is further guaranteed by efforts to digitally preserve all items published on ZivaHub. Preservation generates a backup copy of the item that is regularly monitored using checksums to ensure no corruption occurs. Preservation also creates a normalised copy of recognised file formats to ensure a working version of the data set is available should a file format become obsolete. Normalised files are not automatically added to the ZivaHub item record.
Each published item on ZivaHub displays a “Cite” option, assisting users to cite the data set appropriately using the item DOI. Several citation styles are available along with further guidance.