Deposit and Appraisal¶

The Austrian NeuroCloud (ANC) ensures that deposited datasets are within its domain scope and meet curation standards for long-term preservation and usability. It combines automated validation, guided onboarding workflows, and expert data stewardship to ensure metadata completeness, adherence to standards, and alignment with repository expectations.

Repository Scope and Dataset Eligibility¶

The ANC accepts datasets that conform to the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) specification, with a focus on cognitive neuroscience. BIDS is a widely applied community standard for organizing neuroscience data. The scope and expectations for deposits are formally defined in the Data Format Requirements, which specify:

• BIDS as the only accepted data format
• Minimum required metadata
• Guidelines for specific data types

Data falling outside this scope - including derived data - are not currently accepted. In such cases, the ANC may recommend alternative repositories, for example: EBRAINS for derived data following BIDS specification, Zenodo or PsychArchives for other types of derived data, Zenodo for source code snapshots, PsychArchives for questionnaires. The use of a standardized format enables the ANC to maintain high-quality curation services.

Data Onboarding and Template Workflow¶

Data Onboarding section of this handbook guides the depositors through modality- and site-specific data onboarding processes.

Depositors begin by copying a dataset template, which includes:

• Dummy metadata and directory structure aligned with ANC requirements
• Embedded guidance via GitLab issues and template texts
• A pre-configured CI/CD pipeline file for automated validation
• BIDS validation and Git configuration files

The dataset template evolves with data format standards, so that the new datasets comply with the newest standard versions. This approach ensures structured guidance for depositors from the outset.

Each change to a dataset is automatically evaluated via automated GitLab continuous integration pipelines. The core continuous integration components are:

• BIDS Validator – validates conformance to the latest BIDS standard
• Template Validator – ensures structural and file-level completeness
• BIDS Dataset Website – generates dataset landing pages with embedded metadata

Pipeline outputs are transparent and visible within the GitLab interface to all users with access, providing immediate and actionable feedback to depositors and data stewards.

Metadata and Standards Alignment¶

Compliance with the latest BIDS specification is enforced for all datasets. The dataset template also aligns participant-level metadata with the Neurobagel distributed querying framework. For event-level annotations, the ANC recommends use of the Hierarchical Event Descriptors (HED).

Template issues and documentation guide depositors through metadata entry. Data stewards support this process by monitoring community standards and working collaboratively with depositors to correct deficiencies. All modifications are tracked through GitLab issues and merge requests.

As outlined in the Data Stewardship Policy, data stewards actively monitor the evolution of BIDS and relevant metadata standards. They streamline necessary updates to deposited datasets either semi-automatically or in cooperation with depositors to ensure continued compliance and metadata quality.

Metadata completeness, interpretability, and vocabulary alignment are verified through both automated checks and manual review. Deposit is only accepted once sufficient metadata quality is assured.

Curation Approach¶

The ANC applies a uniform curation level across all datasets. There is currently no prioritization based on the topic or institution.

Each dataset undergoes:

• Automated format and structure validation
• Manual review by ANC data stewards
• Iterative improvements via GitLab issues and merge requests

The Data Format Requirements specify the goal of curation: to ensure reproducibility, long-term usability, and interoperability, without altering scientific content.

Documentation and Handover¶

The ANC Handbook documents all public-facing information about deposit workflows, format requirements, and metadata expectations, ensuring that depositors are well-supported throughout the process.

Custody and rights transfer are formalized through the Transfer and License Agreement, which defines:

• The transfer of responsibility for the digital objects to the repository,
• The rights granted to the ANC for preservation, curation, and access,
• The conditions under which the dataset may be published or returned.