The ISOTOPE Virtual Research Environment (ITINERIS project, PNRR).

Over time, isotopic data have gained increasing significance in Earth Sciences, and their numerous applications have proved valuable across diverse research areas, mainly in Geology, Environmental Science and other disciplines belonging to Earth System Sciences. The importance of understanding natural processes using isotope ratios points out the need of data sharing. Consequently, the Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System (ITINERIS) Project started to build the Italian Hub of Research Infrastructures (Ris) in the environmental scientific domain with the aim to facilitate access to data and services while aiding the nation in addressing current and future environmental challenges. The Isotope Virtual Research Environment (ISOTOPE VRE) represents the first Italian VRE that aims filling the gap of a national database on environmental stable isotopes. The final scope is to build the first Italian isotope database, wherein isotopic data will be collected and harmonized to promote and facilitate data sharing within the scientific community. Moreover, the ISOTOPE VRE initiative will encompass tools for analysis, interpretation, and modelling services allowing researchers and environmental managers to interpreting and modelling biogeochemical processes in the area of Environmental Sciences. At present, the national database on environmental stable isotopes is integrated into a web application deployed within a dedicated D4science VRE. The web application is accessible via any web browser. The software architecture under development is based on three main tiers: (i) a relational database, which is designed for heterogeneous data collection, supported by a dedicated access software; (ii) a web services API (Application Programming Interface) designed to allow automatic interactions with other applications in a “Service Oriented” perspective; (iii) a single page web application providing end-users with an intuitive, friendly, responsive, and robust interface allowing them to easily access the main functionalities of the application, such as, for instance, data retrieving and processing. The software architecture relies only on open source technologies, featuring PostgreSQL as relational database, Java 11 as language for developing data access and the REST APIs, and Angular 14.3.0 with Bootstrap as development platform for the web user interface.