SoBigData.it: Italian Research Infrastructure
The project aims to strengthen the SoBigData RI with the goal of enhancing interdisciplinary and innovative research on the multiple aspects of social complexity by combining data and model-driven approach. SoBigData emphasizes the concept of “responsible data science”, considering the ethical values as one of the pillars of reliable use of big data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies. Consequently, SoBigData RI develops methodologies and approaches to put into practice the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and FACT (Fair, Accurate, Confidential, and Transparent) principles. The RI will tackle complex social phenomena such as (but not limited to): Social Impact of AI and explainable machine learning, Societal Debates, and Misinformation Analysis, Disaster response and recovery, Societal and industrial impact of Next-Generation Internet beyond 5G networks. SoBigData is the result of two H2020 grants (grant n.654024 and 871042) and is part of the ESFRI Roadmap 2021.
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The strengthening will concern four main aspects of the infrastructure
Technological aspect: strengthening and creating new computational nodes distributed on the Italian territory with centralized and networking technologies
Scientific aspect: strengthening and creating new virtual laboratories (VL) to explore specific aspects of society through data science
Ethical Aspect: Promote the new generation of “responsible data scientists” collaborating with the academia and industry
The creation of DIGIT services for multidisciplinary communities by exploiting the research produced in the VL and the new computational and technological resources
Work packages
WP1 – Empowering the Digital Backbone
WP2 – Virtual Research Laboratories
WP3 – Access provision
WP4 – Communication and Sustainability
WP5 – Responsible Data Science and Training
WP6 – Infrastructure services
WP7 – Management
WP1 – Empowering the Digital Backbone
This WP aims to empower and create the computational nodes of SoBigData at the Italian level through data centers connected to the RI network. The objective is to increase the capability of the RI in terms of storage and computing power needed to support short and long-term scalability, robustness, availability, and reliability of services. The provided deliverable describes the acquisition of new computational resources (D1.1) and the integration of the new nodes (D1.2 and D1.3).
WP2 – Virtual Research Laboratories
This work package is the place where new research is developed and tested for and with the community of users of the RI. Thanks to the capabilities offered by the RI, the project will include 11 Virtual Laboratories (VLs), which are online areas equipped with tools for sharing information, methodologies, and opinions. The expected deliverables describe all the actions related to the VLs activities (D2.1-5)
WP3 – Access provision
This Work Package will implement Transnational Access (TNA) and Virtual Access (VA) activities offered by the infrastructure. It will specify the modality of access, including the provided support, target users, and all the activities to implement the RI Access. The deliverables inside WP3 report the activities and the KPI related to TNA and VA (D3.1-7).
WP4 – Communication and Sustainability
WP4 main objectives are the development of a long-term communication strategy and the definition of the sustainability plan. The inclusion of SoBigData RI into the ESFRI RoadMap 2021 enables the RI to attract funds and define a business model for supporting long-term sustainability till 2050. This WP also includes stakeholder analysis and the instauration of national and international synergies. The expected deliverables report the activities performed in these main objectives (D4.1-6).
WP5 – Responsible Data Science and Training
This WP proposes different objectives related to the promotion and diffusion of data science. It includes the consolidation of the legal and ethical framework of the SoBigData RI, in accordance with European and national legislation; the delivery of a range of open-source training modules; the enforcement of the connection with Master Degrees, Professional Masters (after degree), Ph.D. programs and other training initiatives to cultivate a new generation of data scientists (also promoting diversity and inclusion in data science). The deliverables report all the activities related to the above main objectives (D5.1-7).
WP6 – Infrastructure services
This work package is responsible for the provision of the RI services. There are two categories of services envisaged in this project: online and offline services. The objective of the online services is to produce DIGIT tools able to return to the community the results obtained by the research developed in WP2. Those services are offered in the form of SoBigData libraries, consisting in a set of thematic methodologies available on the cloud and usable both in a JupyterHub environment or in the SoBigData engine, and applications which are stand-alone environments with specific interfaces to be accessed through the RI. The WP6 deliverables include the list and the description of all the services available in the SoBigData RI (D6.1-6)
WP7 – Management
WP7 globally aims to ensure solid and efficient day-to-day management for the project to meet its objectives on time and within budget constraints.