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DaRIS

DaRIS

DaRIS (Distributed and Reflective Informatics System) is a subject-oriented informatics application primarily used for managing biomedical imaging data and integrating it with imaging instruments and other research computing solutions. It is built on Mediaflux infrastructure (http://www.arcitecta.com).

Product overview

DaRIS is a data repository product built on top of the commercial Mediaflux digital asset management platform. DaRIS is primarily used to hold bio-medical imaging data and metadata. These data and metadata are stored in what are termed 'assets' which are managed by Mediaflux and physically reside on a data store accessible by the Mediaflux server.

With DaRIS you can:

  • Have a standard process to receive data directly from the source instrument (e.g. an MR scanner)

  • Store data and metadata

  • Organise data by projects, each of which has unique access permissions

  • Manage access permissions with roles assigned to users

  • Download data to compute servers with on-the-fly format conversions for processing

For those who are technically minded, check out this article about DaRIS’s framework and data model: http://www.frontiersin.org/neuroinformatics/10.3389/neuro.11.019.2009/full

Features

  • DICOM StorageSCP server: DaRIS extends the Mediaflux DICOM (storageSCP) server engine to receive DICOM data from imaging instruments

  • DICOM StorageSCU client: A storageSCU client enables sending of DICOM data to remote StorageSCP servers

  • (web) DICOM uploader: A DICOM uploader in the DaRIS web portal can be used to import DICOM data via web browser

  • (web) DICOM viewer: A DICOM viewer in the DaRIS web portal can be used to inspect DICOM images as well as metadata headers

  • DICOM transcoders: Plugin transcoders are available in DaRIS to convert DICOM files into other formats such as NIFTI and Analyze

  • Project data model:
    DaRIS provides a managed repository for both data and meta-data.
    It organises by 'project' with 'subject-centric' data model (project → subject → ex-method → study → data-set)

  • Project permission model:
    ACLs are applied to all the project data based on the hierarchical permission model (project-administrator → subject-administrator → member → guest)

  • Metadata are harvested automatically into indexed and searchable metadata during data ingesting

  • Both metadata and data (image or content) are versioned

  • HTTPS protocol is enforced for data transmission to/from DaRIS

  • DICOM transfer to DaRIS is protected with firewall rules (and optionally TLS can be enabled)

  • Data can be download via web browser or command line client tool

  • Data can be sent to remote SSH server vis sftp/scp

  • Download link can be generated for users to share the data

  • Data replication is enabled for UoM DaRIS server

  • Data integrity check process is enabled for data ingested into DaRIS

Eligibility

  • Any eligible University of Melbourne researcher can apply for new storage

  • Only authorised users (RCAOs or Activity users with ‘Manage Resources’ privileges) can request changes to existing storage

For fuller detail on all our eligibility criteria and usage conditions, please refer to Eligibility to access our services and RCS’s Terms of Service.

Access

Please use the self-service Research Computing Portal (RCP) whenever you need to:

  • request a new DaRIS storage allocation

  • request a change to an existing DaRIS quota

  • change access permissions

Important:

  • To access RCP when off campus, you need to be connected to the University VPN.

  • RCP requires DaRIS resources to belong to an 'Activity' --- this means that you create an Activity first, then add the DaRIS resource to it (alternatively you can add DaRIS resources to preexisting Activities if you have them).

  • Only one DaRIS resource is allowed per RCP Activity.

Support

To report any issues with the DaRIS service, please submit a help request via ServiceNow:

 Important: when the form asks you to select a service that your request relates to, please sellect Research Data Storage.

License

DaRIS software is distributed under BSD (2-clause) Licence

  • Mediaflux

    • You must purchase a valid Mediaflux licence from Arcitecta and adhere to the conditions of their licensing agreement

    • See also /wiki/spaces/RCS/pages/4593331

  • LONI Debabeler (non-commercial)

    • The LONI debabeler is used with our transcoding (format conversion) framework.

    • We thank LONI for permission to repackage the debabeler in our distribution (and for creating the debabeler).

    • Please see the LONI licence conditions.

    • NOTE: from v3.0.0. LONI debabeler is used a optional plugin (trancoder provider) to DaRIS. And it can be excluded during installation.

  • PixelMed DICOM library

    • It is used in some aspects of our DICOM handling software (any usage allowed)

    • The stand-alone DICOM client wrapper distributed with DaRIS

    • The built in DICOM client accessed from the portal and the service layer supplying the ability to send data from within DaRIS to external DICOM servers

    • Please see the PixelMed licence statement and conditions

  • Apache Commons libraries are utilised without modification

  • SAXON XSLT processor

  • Papaya viewer

A number of entities have contributed to the development of DaRIS:

  • The University of Melbourne

  • Monash University

  • The University of Queensland

  • The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

  • The National Imaging Facility

  • Arcitecta Pty Ltd