FAQ for the use of PIDInst at Helmholtz Centres

Who is this document for?

For technical services/labs, data stewards/repositories/IT, researchers, and centre management. (HMC E&E Recommendation to use PIDINST)

What is PIDINST?

A community-based approach (RDA working group) plus a metadata schema for persistent identifiers of instruments (concrete devices/instances).
(PIDINST, PIDINST metadata schema, RDA WG Case Statement (PDF), Data Science Journal)

What is PIDINST used for?

For the unambiguous referencing of instruments in metadata, linking them to datasets (provenance), and representing components/versions in workflows. (Linking instrument PIDs to datasets, PIDINST Schema Mapping)

Which organisation is behind PIDINST?

The RDA PIDINST working group (WG PIDINST) is responsible for the concept and schema; implementations are provided, among others, via DataCite (DOI) and ePIC/B2INST (Handle).
(RDA WG Case Statement (PDF), DataCite Metadata Schema 4.5, docs.pidinst.org)

Why is the use of PIDINST important for the Helmholtz Association?

For FAIR interoperability, clear provenance, and cross-centre linking; HMC explicitly recommends PIDINST. Examples and linkages (e.g. HZB, SMS, O2A) are documented. (Recommendation to use PIDINST, Adoption of PIDINST)

Where and how is PIDINST registered?

Two main paths:

• DataCite DOI (schema 4.5, resource type Instrument), via Fabrica or REST API.
  (DataCite Metadata Schema 4.5, Register a DOI for an instrument, Minting the instrument DOI)

• ePIC/Handle via EUDAT B2INST (web UI & API; also community instances).
  (PID4NFDI, Registry Tool for Instruments)

Who is responsible for maintaining PIDINST records?

The registering organisation (stewardship responsibility, metadata updates); HMC explicitly recommends designating responsibilities.
(DataCite DOI Registration Policy, Recommendation to the technical personnel to implement PIDINST)

Where and how do I change PIDINST records?

For DataCite DOIs, via the Fabrica portal or REST API; for B2INST, via the web UI or REST API.
(Minting the instrument DOI, PID for Instruments)

How do I find out the PIDINST of a particular instrument?

Via the instrument landing page / instrument catalogues, via DataCite Commons (filter resourceTypeGeneral: Instrument), or via the B2INST search. (PID for Instruments, eLTER)

How can I find out which instrument is behind a given PIDINST?

Open the PID target page (DOI/Handle); it lists the name, description, and – depending on the metadata – operator, location, components, and linked datasets.
(DataCite PIDINST Schema Mapping, PIDINST metadata schema)

Who “owns” a PIDINST record?

The record is part of an open registry; the registering organisation is responsible (steward), but there is no “ownership” in the legal sense. (DataCite DOI Registration Policy)

Are there alternatives to PIDINST?

Internal inventory numbers/serial numbers or generic Handles/DOIs without a dedicated schema – but these are not globally interoperable. HMC points to DataCite DOIs and ePIC/B2INST, used in the sense of PIDINST, as practical paths.
(Recommendation to use PIDINST)