ENAC-IT4R

Our team of software developers, data engineers, and data scientists works closely with EPFL researchers to help them make the best use of their data and build effective and reproducible data pipelines.

We act as a Data Help Desk, guiding researchers and students toward the right resources for data management, data science, and scientific valorization, in addition to the standard ENAC-IT’s Support. We also provide Advanced services tailored to the needs of EPFL academic community, throughout data lifecycle — from building data acquisition pipelines to deploying custom data visualization tools, such as open research databases or interactive teaching materials. These advanced services can be funded through grants, eligible to SNSF system, and follow the U1 tarification system.

Data & Code Help Desk

Through our Help Desk, we tackle a myriad of data or code challenges, spanning from database management to troubleshooting code issues and everything in between throughout your research data lifecycle. Contact us :

Pilot Projects

We offer to conduct small pilot projects (for free). Our aim is to bolster open science practices within the ENAC research community, while supporting researchers with their funding proposals.

Researchers are encouraged to propose small pilot projects, which can take the form of:

an open-source software or research scripts for packaging and distribution, or
Dataset valorization through tailored visualization.

You may request ENAC-IT4R’s data help desk support for:

Coding optimization
Scripts migration (e.g., Fortran to Python. Python 2 to Python 3…)
Dependencies handling
Version control set-up (code storage, collaborative practices etc.)
Publication pipeline set-up (tests, CI/CD, packaging)
Documentation review and automation
Coding good practices enforcement (coding conventions, static analysis…)
GUI (User interface) development
Dissemination plan (user support, website, open software publication etc.)

ENAC-IT4R’s software engineers will be supporting some pilot projects based on the following criteria :

Tech stack corresponds to the expertise of ENAC-IT4R’s team (else we may re-direct to other research support services).
Feasibility of an open-source deliverable within a few weeks of an ENAC-IT4R developer’s work.
Solid maintenance plan and future steps (opportunities for external funding for the researcher)

Advanced Services

Software development

Full-stack web development of tailored applications
Research scripts refactoring & packaging
Educational software tools for students and teachers (e.g. sandboxed environments and notebooks)

Data valorization

Custom data visualisation
Open Databases
Interactive web applications design, development and deployement

Coding support

Research scripts packaging
Code optimization & refactoring
Code migration and adaptation

Data analysis & science

Collaborative data projects shaping and set-up, students co-supervision
Consulting and support on data analysis/science: tools and methods
Coordination with other expertise on campus.

Infrastructure

Database management, advanced storage
Server management, containers deployment
Advising on infrastructure choices and data governance structures

Data stewardship

Data acquisition pipelines & automation
Data pre-processing and curation
Access to new data streams

Featured projects

Solidipes curation platform

26-11-2024

Armillaria solidipes is the specie of the largest living organism on Earth, a fungus forming an underground network spanning 9.1 km². Solidipes is a Python package designed to support scientists throughout the entire lifecycle of their research data: acquisition, curation, publication, and sharing. Solidipes can be deployed as a web platform, providing an intuitive interface for visualizing (…)

Polar Field Campaigns Map

26-11-2024

The Polar Field Campaigns website is an interactive 2D/3D map of the Arctic and Antarctica that highlights locations where field observations were conducted, either at fixed stations or along icebreaker ship routes. It provides details on the types of measurements taken and makes the corresponding campaign data, available in open-access repositories like Zenodo and PANGAEA, (…)

EPFL Water Portal

01-11-2024

This website serves as an online visualization platform for water infiltration data measured on EPFL’s campus along the Sorge River. It highlights the initiative within the Urban Twin Project and promotes action to reduce runoff on campus.Sensors placed along the Sorge River collect various measurements, including water temperature, depth, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. (…)

See all projects