The Information Integration Working Group (Information Integration WG) researches and develops technology to present a consistent, unified view of data that is distributed across multiple sources. Such ability is critical to BIRN’s infrastructure, which by definition enables participants to communicate across incompatible computing platforms and database structures.
To that end, we are deploying a virtual integration approach in which queries are treated as if users were accessing a single database. The integration system resolves the difficult issues of significant discrepancies among data sources, enabling users to receive answers in real time – with the most recent data available – regardless of where that information originated.
We also are pursuing several use cases to define requirements and build tools useful to multiple biomedical disciplines. Current use cases include integration of multiple data sources for the Function BIRN Test Bed and the CardioVascular Research Grid.
The Information Integration Working Group includes representatives from the University of Southern California/Information Sciences Institute, the University of California at Irvine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory.
The Information Integration Working Group leverages the expertise and technology from the USC/ISI Information Integration Research Group, as well as grid infrastructure such as the Globus Toolkit and OGSA-DAI/DQP.
