Progress with the new research data management system at HartRAO

The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) participates in global astronomic and geodetic research activities. Astronomy activities focus largely on the use of the 26‑m radio telescope to conduct astronomical observations- single-dish observations and astronomical Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), whilst geodetic activities focus on using the HartRAO 15-m and 26-m radio telescopes for geodetic VLBI, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positional reference stations, weather data, seismic systems, satellite laser ranging (SLR) and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning (DORIS) systems. Added to the existing instruments and techniques are gravimetric instruments, a Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) and, in the near future, a VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) telescope. HartRAO is also participating in the African VLBI Network (AVN), a network of radio telescopes in Africa. Data and data products produced by HartRAO's expanded range of on-site and off-site instruments must be archived and stored at HartRAO and made accessible to the scientific community. The data management and storage systems currently being used have certain drawbacks, such as being distributed and outdated as well as having a limited capacity to manage additional large data volumes, types and user requirements. This necessitated the design and implementation of a new, next-generation Geodetic Research Data Management System (GRDMS), which will comply with internationally accepted standards. Main objectives of the system are to organise, structure and store geodesy and geodynamics related data and data products in a central data bank, maintain information about the archival of the data and disseminate data, data products and information in a timely manner to the global research community. Components of our data management system will be similar to and incorporate the same software as that of the Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) and University NAVSTAR Consortium (UNAVCO). Data structures and file-naming conventions of the CDDIS and UNAVCO will be used for all geodetic data. Each dataset will receive persistent interoperable identifiers, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs).  A web-based graphic user interface (GUI) for the dissemination of data and data products will be provided to users. We present progress to date on various sub-systems as well as a top-level conceptual model of the GRDMS.