SIParCS 2025 - Minh Le

Enhancing Data Access of the Research Data Archive Through Full-Stack Development

Recorded Talk

The Research Data Archive (RDA) supports a wide range of users who rely on consistent, efficient access to large-scale climate and atmospheric datasets. However, navigating large-scale data systems can pose challenges due to complex interfaces and different levels of expertise among users. This project focused on engineering improvements that enhance the usability, reliability, and transparency of RDA’s data access infrastructure.

We focused on redesigning key user interfaces using Django, Bootstrap, and JavaScript to streamline the data access experience and reduce friction in navigating and retrieving datasets. These front-end improvements aimed to reduce cognitive load and streamline the path from dataset discovery to download, which resulted in functional prototypes. We enhanced transparency by introducing an interactive outage map that informs users of service disruptions and suggests alternative cache servers. To support broader data accessibility, we implemented programmatic solutions using the Django REST Framework, including clearly documented API endpoints to allow researchers to programmatically query dataset metadata efficiently.

Mentors: Riley Conroy, Harsha Hampapura, Nihanth Cherukuru

Slides and poster