Features

Laboratory informatics tools
11 February 2020

This chapter will look at the four major laboratory informatics tools – laboratory information management systems (LIMS), electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs), laboratory execution systems (LES) and scientific data management systems (SDMS) – their differences and how they relate to each other. Each of these systems functions at or around the ‘Information’ layer (see Figure 1) and typically serves to collate data and information about the laboratory’s operations

Document management
11 February 2020

This chapter considers how the smart laboratory contributes to the requirements of a knowledge eco-system, and the practical consequences of joined-up science. Knowledge management describes the processes that bring people and information together to address the acquisition, processing, storage, use, and re-use of knowledge to develop understanding and to create value

Instrumentation
11 February 2020

This chapter will consider the different classes of instruments and computerised instrument systems to be found in laboratories and the role they play in computerised experiments and sample processing – and the steady progress towards all-electronic laboratories. 

However, the choice of best-of-breed laboratory instruments and instrument systems can present challenges when it comes to getting everything to work together in a seamless way. The final part of this chapter will look at the issue of standard data interchange formats, the extent of the challenge, and some of the initiatives to address them

 

The smart laboratory
07 February 2020

This chapter discusses what we mean by a ‘smart laboratory’ and its role in an integrated business. We also look at the development of computerised laboratory data and information management; the relationships between laboratory instruments and automation (data acquisition); laboratory informatics systems (information management); and higher-level enterprise systems and how they align with knowledge management initiatives.

Dealing with data
07 February 2020

Informatics experts share their experiences on the implementation of new technologies and managing change in the modern laboratory

The key layers of a laboratory paperless strategy
07 February 2020

Isabel Muñoz-Willery and Roberto Castelnovo, of NL42 Consulting, highlight the importance of developing a robust strategy for the adoption paperless laboratory operations

An introduction to building a smart laboratory 2019
07 February 2020

This chapter serves as an introduction to this guide, Building a Smart Laboratory 2019. We hope to highlight the importance of adopting smart laboratory technology but also to guide users through some of the challenges and pitfalls when designing and implementing paperless technologies in the laboratory.

Processing possibilities
05 February 2020

As competition in the processor market heats up there are increasing options available to HPC users, writes Robert Roe

Exascale in Europe
05 February 2020

Robert Roe looks at the development of exascale in Europe, funded through the European Commission, its member states and industry partners

Katrin cuts neutrino mass estimate
05 February 2020

An international team of scientists that includes researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), have announced a breakthrough in research which aims to measure the mass of the neutrino

Ceph: powering the most exciting research on Earth
05 February 2020

Harry Richardson highlights the value of Ceph in scientific applications, in this guest article from SoftIron 

Sea of data
05 February 2020

Robert Roe explores the use of HPC storage technology in off-shore energy exploration

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