The Australian Characterisation Commons at Scale (ACCS)

The Australian Characterisation Commons at Scale (ACCS) project aims to resolve the big-data challenges faced by microscopy facilities by providing tools, best practice guides, specialised training and knowledge sharing.

The ACCS will deliver a rich ecosystem of computing systems, data repositories, workflows, and services, connected with instruments for researchers who use characterisation techniques or imaging collections, and facility scientists who run instruments.

The ACCS will apply software-defined models, containerisation, and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI-CD) to lower the burden of operating services, and delivering a broad capability across four nodes: Monash University, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, and University of Western Australia.

This project is supported through the ARDC Research Platforms program.

Start date 7 February 2020

Expected completion date 7 February 2023

Investment by ARDC $1,980,000

Co-investment partners

Monash University

AARNet

Bioplatforms Australia

Flinders University

EMBL Australia

Microscopy Australia

National Imaging Facility

Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

QCIF

RMIT University

Swinburne University

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The University of Melbourne

University of New South Wales

University of Queensland

University of South Australia

University of Sydney

University of Western Australia

University of Wollongong

Lead node

1 Deployment and operating models of the commons

The characterisation commons (CC) includes a selection of over 120 tools and services hosted at sites that are contributing hardware.

2 Institutional research and data provenance

Interconnecting CC and instrument users to the institutional research projects from which they originated

3 National Training for a Digital Characterisation Community

Developing and delivering training content so that researchers are able to effectively use the CC. Supporting best FAIR data management practices. Fostering a strong community of engaged stakeholders who are able to broaden the reach and impact of the CC.

4 Big Data Electron and Correlative Microscopy from Instrument to Publication

The project addresses the challenges generated by new Electron Microscopy (EM) and light techniques. This includes cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) which is becoming broadly available across Australia, and new material techniques.

5 Biomedical Imaging Collections and Analysis

Supporting collections-based research being undertaken across the fleet of Australian imaging instruments, including those across the National Imaging Facility (NIF), medical research institutes and clinical sites.

6 National Tools for Scattering and Beyond

This will integrate environments for scattering data such as that obtained at ANSTO and will be broadly applied to other techniques including Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or drug discovery.

Core features

Managing big data from Instrument to Publication

Streamlining of the data management and publishing pipelines, resolving many of the big data challenges generated by new EM and light techniques. This includes cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) which is becoming broadly available across Australia, and new material techniques.

Biomedical Imaging Collections and Analysis

A collection of tools and resources to assist collections-based research being undertaken across the fleet of Australian imaging instruments, including those across the National Imaging Facility (NIF), medical research institutes and clinical sites.

National Tools for Scattering and Beyond

The ACCS will integrate environments for scattering data such as that obtained at ANSTO and will be broadly applied to other techniques including Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or drug discovery.

Who is this project for?

The project will benefit researchers, research organisations, government agencies (state and commonwealth) and infrastructure providers that need to manage and analyse characterisation data.

Characterisation is being applied in a range of research areas; for example, 8 out of the 10 National Science and Research Priorities (NSRPs): Soil and Water, Transport, Energy, Resources, Advanced Manufacturing, and Health.

What does this project enable?

The ACCS will develop a coherent and accessible informatics landscape that promotes collaboration, increases return on Investment, and delivers value to researchers, while also uplifting the research capability offered to industry.

This project will transform the outcomes of research investment, process and delivery for a range of stakeholders. For example, research communities will benefit by reducing time to publication and increasing the quality and reproducibility of their research, funders can increase return on investment in instruments and focus their funding on research.