Building Block View

This section describes the static decomposition of the system components involved in the Access Request Submission process. It maps the operational steps identified in the SIPOC diagram (dataset selection, collaborator contributions, application completion, signing confirmation, and cost estimation) to the underlying technical building blocks.

Whitebox Overall System

This level describes the main components required to support the access request submission workflows, enabling users to create and submit data access applications with dataset selection, collaborator contributions, and signing official confirmation.

To support the processes outlined in the runtime view—such as dataset selection, application form completion, collaborator contributions, submission initiation, signing official confirmation, and cost estimation—the system must be decomposed into functional components that handle distinct responsibilities, ensuring data integrity, governance compliance, and auditability.

Contained Building Blocks

1. User Portal

   • Responsibility: Serves as the primary web interface for users to interact with the access request submission system. Provides user-facing workflows for main applicants to create, edit, and submit access applications. Enables collaborators to view and contribute to shared draft applications. Provides interfaces for signing officials to review and confirm access request submissions. Routes user actions to backend systems and presents application status and updates.

2. Dataset Catalogue

   • Responsibility: Maintains the inventory of available datasets accessible through the 1+MG network. Enables users to browse, search, and view dataset metadata, availability information, and associated terms of use. Responds to dataset queries from the User Portal and provides dataset information for application completion.

3. Access Request Governance

   • Responsibility: Manages the governance and validation aspects of access request applications. Confirms dataset accessibility for datasets selected in access applications, ensuring data protection compliance. Receives submitted access requests from the User Portal and validates them before forwarding to downstream processes. Maintains the authoritative record of submitted applications and their governance status.

4. Access Request Operator

   • Responsibility: External actor responsible for receiving submitted data access applications and initial cost summaries from the submission system. Informs Central Coordination about initial cost estimates. Acts as the liaison between the submission system and Central Coordination for downstream review processes (conformity checks, ethics review, access decisions).

Important Interfaces

• Main Applicant - User Portal: Web interface for main applicants to create, edit, correct, and submit access applications.
• Collaborator - User Portal: Web interface enabling collaborators to view and contribute to shared draft applications.
• Signing Official - User Portal: Web interface for signing officials to review and confirm access request submissions.
• User Portal - Dataset Catalogue: API integration for users to query and retrieve available datasets, metadata, and terms of use.
• User Portal - Access Request Governance: API integration for submitting access applications and receiving confirmation of dataset accessibility.
• Access Request Governance - Dataset Catalogue: API integration to confirm dataset accessibility for selected datasets.
• Access Request Governance - Access Request Operator: Interface for transferring submitted applications and communicating initial cost estimates.
• Access Request Operator - 1+MG Central Coordination: External interface for delivering submitted data access applications and initial cost estimate information to Central Coordination.

Data Types

Name	Risk Classification	Comments
Select Datasets	Low	List of datasets chosen by users from the Dataset Catalogue for their access request.
Details from Collaborator	Medium	Information and documentation provided by collaborators contributing to the application.
Details from Main Applicant	Medium	Information and documentation provided by collaborators contributing to the application.
Data Access Application	Medium	Structured data entries completing the access application form including research purpose, intended use, investigator details, and data handling plans.
Initial Cost Summary	Medium	Preliminary cost assessment report based on datasets requested and project scope. Communicated to Central Coordination via Access Request Operator.