title: Modelling data across labs, genomes, space and time.
abstract: Logical models and physical specifications provide the foundation for storage, management and analysis of complex sets of data, and describe the relationships between measured data elements and metadata - the contextual descriptors that define the primary data. Here, we use imaging applications to illustrate the purpose of the various implementations of data specifications and the requirement for open, standardized, data formats to facilitate the sharing of critical digital data and metadata.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gene Regulation and Expression, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK. jason@lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Swedlow
authors.forename: Suzanna E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Ilya G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D019146:Hypermedia / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011381:Programming Languages; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D018511:Systems Integration; D013997:Time Factors