DDI4RDC, a consortium of companies comprised of Breckenhill, Algenta, Metadata Technology and Ideas2Evidence, today showcased open source tools that produce metadata products based on the DDI Foundation Tools Program, the DDI Editing Suite Framework and in line with the Open Data Foundation recommendations.  The showing occurred at the annual conference of the international organization of professionals working with information technology and data services to support research and teaching in the social sciences whose 300 members work in a variety of settings, including data archives, statistical agencies, research centers, libraries, academic departments, government departments, and non-profit and commercial organizations.

The tools are being developed under contract with the University of Manitoba to be utilized with Canada’s network of Research Data Centres (RDC) by researchers engaged in analytical activities on microdata from population and household surveys and will be made available to the global social sciences research community.  Supporting bilingual data collection, a specialized edition of Colectica for questionnaire management and boasting a comprehensive metadata editor, the tools will be released for closed beta later this year.  The contract, the first phase of a multi-phase initiative, is expected to be completed in 2011.

"I’m delighted with the progress on these tools.  They will enable increased productivity of Canadian researchers working in our national data network while also allowing the global social science research community to leverage these tools within their own environments." said Chuck Humphrey, Academic Director of the Alberta Research Data Centre with the University of Alberta Libraries.

The Research Data Centres (RDC) Program is part of an initiative by Statistics Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and university consortia to help strengthen Canada's social research capacity and to support the policy research community.  Funding and contributions for the project was supplied by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure.

Breckenhill Inc.

Founded in 2002, Breckenhill Inc. is a boutique consulting firm offering a range of investigative and research services, privacy audit, privacy impact assessment, as well as internal audit, performance audit and IT security and audit. Breckenhill offers related strategic and training products in these areas to an international clientele drawn from the public and private sectors through a network of equity-based partners and professional associates in Canada, the United States, Norway, Asia and Australia.

Algenta

Founded in 1999, Algenta Technologies is a research and development firm specializing in data management, integration services, and Internet technologies for government, academic and business computing. Algenta provides Colectica, a software platform that enables a metadata-driven approach to survey design and data management. The company also offers a range of highly specific products and services designed to give power to people through easy integration and access to data.

Metadata Technology

Metadata Technology is an eGovernment data management and information technology solution provider. We offer a unique combination of technology skills and world leading expertise to enable organizations leveraging the SDMX and DDI metadata standards to better manage and use data and accompanying knowledge.  Metadata Technology’s mission is to deliver quality solutions to business communities, agencies and individuals concerned with the collection, dissemination, and use of data and related metadata, based on internationally recognized data and metadata standards. Key personnel include globally recognized experts in the area of SDMX, DDI and the management of socio-economic data and official statistics. The DDI4RDC project is managed at the North America corporate site located in Knoxville, TN.

Ideas2Evidence

Ideas2evidence work with organizations and companies to refine and analyze their data, develop indicators and extract knowledge. We develop advanced monitoring and reporting environments allowing organizations and companies to evaluate performance and make better evidence based decisions.