System's architecture

The architecture of the platform consists mainly in a Data Hub module and a multi-site front-end. Both components will be integrated side-by-side in the architecture. Users will be able to access both directly or through internal links, navigation should be intuitive for the user while browsing through both components.

The Data Hub represents the principal component of the platform. It should make possible that collaborating organisations from the participating countries upload data, information and other resources in a structured manner. It should not only store the datasets and contents but also expose them for download to other users, through a web interface and through an API.

For this module, existing frameworks have been considered to be adopted and building the whole technology solution from scratch discarded. Since using Open Source technologies is a major factor for the selection of the framework to adopt, this research has focused on CKAN (http://ckan.org).

The Open Data platform developed and maintained by the OKFN and a relatively big community of developers worldwide.CKAN has proven to be a valid platform for using as a base for fulfilling the requirements of the project. In the upcoming paragraphs, key issues will be analysed in detail together with the possible solutions that can be implemented based on the chosen ODP.

Wordpress will be the chosen technology for the different regional sites, since most of the partners are already familiar with it and considering that it is an Open Source, community supported and broadly used technology.

Initial viability research document: ODM Viability Research.pdf