University of St Andrews 2022 - 2026 ADR UK Programme
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Geography and Sustainable Development
Abstract
The SafePod Network (SPN) is a major new research innovation created to significantly improve access to data for public benefit research through the provision of standardised safe settings (SafePods) across the UK.
The major objectives of the SPN are to:
1. Significantly improve the quantity and diversity of public benefit research by providing researchers with equitable and secure access to data through the provision of a network of standardised safe settings (SafePods and SafeSpaces) across the UK;
2. Improve and widen the sharing of data for public benefit research by raising awareness and advocating the work of the SPN with data centres in the UK; and
3. Provide clear information and sign posting for researchers to be able to understand how to access data for public benefit research from all safe settings across the UK.
The introduction of the SafePod Network will overcome many barriers that have prohibited researchers from undertaking important public benefit research, including those of limited access, time and cost (typically caused by long travel to the required safe setting). By providing improved access to data through the SPN it is expected that applications for data will increase. As a result, it is anticipated that the quantity and diversity of public benefit research in the UK is likely to be significantly increased.
The major objectives of the SPN are to:
1. Significantly improve the quantity and diversity of public benefit research by providing researchers with equitable and secure access to data through the provision of a network of standardised safe settings (SafePods and SafeSpaces) across the UK;
2. Improve and widen the sharing of data for public benefit research by raising awareness and advocating the work of the SPN with data centres in the UK; and
3. Provide clear information and sign posting for researchers to be able to understand how to access data for public benefit research from all safe settings across the UK.
The introduction of the SafePod Network will overcome many barriers that have prohibited researchers from undertaking important public benefit research, including those of limited access, time and cost (typically caused by long travel to the required safe setting). By providing improved access to data through the SPN it is expected that applications for data will increase. As a result, it is anticipated that the quantity and diversity of public benefit research in the UK is likely to be significantly increased.
| Description | Widening access to data across the UK |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Title | CCTV system inside SafePods |
| Description | Development of policy and procedures to enable different Data Centres to use the CCTV system inside SafePods. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Enables Data Centres to have access to the SafePod Network CCTV system to monitor activity inside SafePods when researchers are accessing their data. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | SafePod training questionnaire for Safepod Coordinators |
| Description | Development of a training questionnaire to ensure that a person has an excellent understanding of SafePod Network policies and procedures to manage SafePods. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The training questionnaire provides assurances that a person has an excellent understanding of the SafePod Network policies and procedures to become a SafePod Coordinator and manage a SafePod. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | SafePod training questionnaire for researchers |
| Description | Development of a training questionnaire to ensure that researchers have a good understanding of SafePod Network policies and procedures to use SafePods. The questionnaire is editable by an administrator to change questions over time. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Provides assurances that researchers have a good understanding of the policies and procedures to use SafePods. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Description | Partnership between the SafePod Network and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland |
| Organisation | Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (HSCNI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Partnership between the SafePod Network and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland to provide their data through the SafePod Network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Health and Social Care Northern Irleand provided access to their data through the SafePod Network. |
| Impact | Health and Social Care Northern Ireland data is now available to researchers from 20 SafePods across the UK. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership between the SafePod Network and Office for National Statistics |
| Organisation | Office for National Statistics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership between the SafePod Network and the Office for National Statistics to provide their Secure Research Service data through the SafePod Network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Office for National Statistics provided access to their Secure Research data through the SafePod Network. |
| Impact | The ONS Secure Research Service data is now available to researchers from 20 SafePods across the UK. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Partnership between the SafePod Network and SAIL Databank |
| Organisation | SAIL Databank |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Partnership between the SafePod Network and SAIL Databank to provide their SAIL data through the SafePod Network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SAIL Databank provided access to their SAIL data through the SafePod Network. |
| Impact | SAIL Databank data is now available to researchers from 20 SafePods across the UK. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Partnership between the SafePod Network and Scottish Government |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Partnership between the SafePod Network and the Scottish Government to provide access to their data through the SafePod Network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scottish Government provided access to their data through the SafePod Network. |
| Impact | Scottish Government data is now available to researchers from 20 SafePods across the UK. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership between the SafePod Network and the UK Data Service |
| Organisation | UK Data Service |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Partnership between the SafePod Network and the UK Data Service to provide their SecureLab data through the SafePod Network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UK Data Service provided access to their SecureLab data through the SafePod Network. |
| Impact | The UK Data Service SecureLab data is now available to researchers from 20 SafePods across the UK. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | SafePod trademark |
| Description | SafePod is a small prefabricated safe setting which provides secure access to sensitive data. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Trade Mark |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | A network of SafePods has been created across the UK for data that requires secure access for research. |
| Title | SafePoint Trademark |
| Description | SafePoint is a custom built desk based system for data that requires secure access for research. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Trade Mark |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | No impacts yet. Currently in development. |
| Title | EyeCube |
| Description | An EyeCube sits on a SafePoint desk and detects motion. Where no motion is detected the EyeCube automatically cuts the monitor connection signal to the monitor to protect the data or information on the screen |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Will provide additional security controls for the SafePoint Desk, which will provide secure access to data. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | Online training tool for Researchers |
| Description | An online training tool has been developed to ensure that a researcher has an excellent understanding of SafePod Network policies and procedures to use a SafePod The training tool has been set up so that a researcher must take the training every three years. The tool is editable to allow training questions to be changed. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The tool provides assurances to the SafePod Network that a researcher has an excellent understanding of the policies and procedures to use a SafePod for access to data. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | Online training tool for SafePod Coordinators |
| Description | An online training tool has been developed to ensure that a person has an excellent understanding of SafePod Network policies and procedures for their role as a SafePod Coordinator. The training tool has been set up so that a person must take the training every three years. The tool is editable to allow training questions to be changed. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The tool provides assurances to the SafePod Network that a person has an excellent understanding of the policies and procedures to manage and operate a SafePod. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | SafePod Coordinator Awards |
| Description | Provides a public recognition page based on SafePod Coordinators service time and bookings made for the SafePod Network |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Will help people to stay motivated in their role as a SafePod Coordinator and to thank them for their time and efforts. |
| URL | https://safepodnetwork.ac.uk/safepod-coordinator-awards/ |
| Title | SafePod Network IT system |
| Description | Development of SafePod Network IT system with HTML menu system to allow secure remote access to different Data Centre's platforms for researchers to access their project data. |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Allows a researchher to use a single SafePod to connect to different Data Centre's platforms for access to data. Previously a researcher would have needed to have gone to different dedicated safe settings to do this. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Title | SafePod Network website |
| Description | Creation and development of the SafePod Network website. The website is the public facing point for the network and provides: 1. A bookings system for researchers to book SafePods. 2. A management system for organisations to manage their SafePods. 3. A management system for Data Centres to manage their SafePod bookings and set access conditions to SafePods. 4. Information and news about the SafePod Network. 5. Registration and training areas for researchers, SafePod Coordinators and Data Centre administrators. 5. An administration area to manage the website and bookings. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Provides an easy to use centralised system for booking and managing SafePods. The website also provides a dashboard for internal management of the website and SafePod bookings. |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Description | GW4 Secure Data Access Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A webinar to provide further information about the SafePod Network and open days for researchers to visit SafePods at the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Description | SafePod Network newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A SafePod Network newsletter providing information and news about the SafePod Network. Issued quarterly and distributed by email. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Description | SafePod Network webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A webinar to provide researchers with information about the SafePod Network, how SafePods can be accessed and used and data sources available. The webinar was hosted by the University of York and a video of the webinar is available on YouTube. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |
| Description | SafePod Network webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A webinar to provide more information about the SafePod Network. The webinar was hosted by the South West Doctoral Training Partnership. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.safepodnetwork.ac.uk |