Materials Knowledge Base

Small Business Innovation Research effort produces an object-based data repository for materials characterization information.

October 1, 2006

A team of scientists, engineers, and developers from AFRL and RJ Lee Group, Inc., recently completed functional prototype development of the Materials Knowledge Base (MKB), an object-based data repository for laboratory materials characterization information. Constructed as part of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract, MKB demonstrates enormous potential to affect the way data collection, processing, storage, and sharing occurs. The prototype knowledge base and data management system supports AFRL's aerospace materials research and development efforts, paving the way for unprecedented project collaboration and data accessibility that the development team believes will revolutionize the way AFRL scientists and engineers collect, process, store, and share materialsrelated data.

Advanced Air Force (AF) programs and requirements are the impetus spurring new materials development. Information management techniques that improve the availability and dissemination of materials-related data are an avenue for satisfying this accelerated development pace. RJ Lee Group, in conjunction with AFRL materials scientists, proactively pursued the integration of applicable information technologies throughout the project. The technical objective of the initial, Phase I SBIR effort was to develop a proof-of-concept product using actual data from the lab's carbon foam research results. During the more recently concluded Phase II project, RJ Lee Group created a functional prototype for use at AFRL.

Figure 2. An MKB screen capture illustrates how researchers can include other resources—in this case, micrographic images—with material data.

Over a span of many months, a small group of laboratory volunteers first evaluated the early system prototype and later reviewed a fully functional, preproduction version of the software system. This system, which runs on a variety of operating systems, features two main components: a desktop application and a server-based data repository. The desktop application, which resides on each user's personal computer, provides a structured environment for managing personal project data. Users can tailor this desktop application to their specific needs and preferences, enabling fast, precise input and storage of project data. In this capacity, MKB is a tool for scientists and engineers to manage their workflow and projects. They can load charts, reports, drafts, and other data into the system as resources (files), grouping and organizing them into file collections (see Figures 1 and 2).

Using the other system component, the server-based data repository, each user can upload project data from a wide variety of sources and formats for sharing with other MKB users. Data stored in the repository is accessible only to those users who need to see it; the system controls and maintains the security of sensitive information. Furthermore, data stored in the repository is also easy to search and sort. File originators can append or otherwise modify file information as subsequent data becomes available.

The development team expects that MKB will provide AF scientists and engineers a common interface to facilitate timely, shared access to the data they need for augmenting their materials characterization and development programs.

Lt Chuck M. McNiel and Mr. Tim Anderl (Anteon Corporation), of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, wrote this article. For more information, contact TECH CONNECT at (800) 203-6451 or place a request at http://www.afrl.af.mil/techconn_index.asp . Reference document ML-H-05-20.