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Plan-Track-Assess Methodology

OSTrails is built on the concept of Plan–Track–Assess Framework, tailored to diverse national and thematic contexts. Our methodology focuses on: 

  • Identifying real needs in research communities and infrastructures. 
  • Improving and connecting existing components to create true end-to-end solutions. 
  • Testing solutions in real-world settings and preparing them for sustainable, long-term use. 

  • OSTrails will:

    Extend the EOSC Interoperability Framework (EIF) with formats for Digital Objects, semantics, and APIs across the Plan–Track–Assess phases, resulting in the OSTrails Interoperability Reference Architecture, which outlines how platforms and Digital Objects interconnect.

    Align and enhance key services, such as DMP platforms, SKGs, and FAIR assessment tools, so they can work together as a federation.

    Introduce an assessment layer with practical methods, tools, and guidance to support research at every stage.

    Work closely with pilot projects across disciplines to co-create, test, and improve these solutions, ensuring they address real-world challenges and deliver practical, fit-for-purpose results. 

    Our ultimate goal is to enhance EOSC with a robust framework of tools, policies, and documentation, allowing research communities to design their own FAIR-aligned workflows. These solutions will be plug-and-play, flexible, and easily adapted to each user’s pace and environment.

  • The Plan–Track–Assess (PTA) Framework, highlighted in D1.1. Plan-Track-Assess Pathways, describes the key pathways — blueprints that illustrate the interactions between Data Management Plans (DMPs), Scientific Knowledge Graphs (SKGs), and FAIR assessment tools. These pathways define the sequence of steps and processes needed to achieve smooth integration and effective functionality. They help us understand and document the flow of data and operations, ensuring that all components of OSTrails work together seamlessly to deliver optimal value to researchers, data managers, and other stakeholders.

    The Framework outlines both the actions that service users perform and the automated interactions between services that enable data exchange and workflow automation. Within the PTA Framework, three main pathways have been explored:

    Plan

    Refines the creation and review of DMPs, enhancing integration with SKGs and repositories, and improving metadata quality and evaluation.

    Track

    Uses SKGs to monitor and evaluate the FAIRness of research outputs, while improving tracking capabilities and ensuring interoperability with DMP platforms and FAIR assessment tools.

    Assess

    Provides comprehensive evaluation tools for DMPs and research outputs, ensuring interoperability with SKGs and repositories, and offering both automated and manual options for assessment.

  • Related sources

Deliverable 1.1: Plan-Track-Assess Pathways

Established the foundational PTA Framework that maps how researchers, research managers, and funders interact with DMPs, SKGs, and FAIR assessment tools throughout the research lifecycle.

Deliverable 1.4: OSTrails Interoperability Reference Architecture V1

This deliverable introduces the OSTrails reference architecture and three Interoperability Frameworks for DMPs, SKGs, and FAIR Assessment. It outlines interactions between components, clarifying standardised methods while allowing flexible implementation.

Deliverable 4.2 Horizon Europe Report

A Delivered first comprehensive integration of all three Interoperability Frameworks (DMP-IF, SKG-IF, FAIR-IF) with real-world evidence, demonstrating complete Plan-Track-Assess pathway in operational context.

OSTrails Documentation

Technical documentation for OSTrails, the Open Science Plan-Track-Assess Pathways project.