The mobile Drilling Information System (mDIS) is a database management application for capturing and curating meta data on geological cores and samples, drilling progress, and lithology. In addition, images, surveying logs and driller reports are collected. Data reports and sample labels support curating and archiving of the samples. mDIS and its predecessor DIS (Drilling Information System) are in use by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program ICDP for almost 30 years and in over 55 projects.

Application

mDIS in ICDP is usually used during the project's active phase, which starts shortly before drilling and is used daily alongside drilling operations until the end of the first sampling party. All data in mDIS serves as basic dataset for every person involved in the project and will be published as supplement to the project's Scientific Report in the Scientific Drilling Journal. After the moratorium period, all data will become publicly available, and usually, mDIS will no longer be necessary.
With the end of the active phase the data can easily be transferred to collaborating core repositories, which also use mDIS for core and sample curation as e.g. the BCR or the BGR in Spandau. That ensures a long-time curation and accessibility of sample and data material.

Setup

mDIS is a platform independent, responsive and open source data management system. It is set up in a server-client environment and is available as a stand-alone version or as a web application. The stand-alone version is useful for data entry in remote areas without internet access. The web application is used, if internet is available and data acquisition is done on several computers and at different locations.

The native mDIS runs on Linux, but deployed as a virtual box instance it can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux systems and contains the data base system and the mDIS application. mDIS is then accessed via a web browser to enter, view, update, edit or upload data.

The mDIS structure is hierarchical. Each hierarchy level is defined by a data table and an entry mask (form), which can be customized by trained users for project specific needs. For further information please have look at the mDIS documentation.

User group

The mDIS software is designed for use by scientists and curators who manage large amounts of samples and their related data.

Features

• easy and user-friendly data input and file upload
• modification of tables and forms without programming skills
• manage all sampling related data in one database
• upload and assign photos, images and documents directly to your data
• display and print data in different reports
• export your data directly as csv
• multi-user rights management
• automatically assign International Generic Sample Numbers (IGSN)
• print labels for samples including a QR code for easy access and findability
• use the integrated storage functionality to keep track of your samples