Data Management Working Group

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Table of Contents

Purpose

The US Geological Survey produces a vast number of valuable data sets every year used to advance science. Thousands of scientists in every science strategy work to develop, analyze, and publish papers on data collected by the Survey. However, the lifecycle of a data set does not end with a given scientist or project.  The ability to integrate multiple datasets for analysis and reuse expands the reasons for which a single dataset was originally collected. Data collection and analysis is only part of the foundation of science. Data integration is another key component needed to answer more complicated questions in science.  However, before data integration can be undertaken, it requires the data to meet certain standards that define the data life cycle.

There is an underlying assumption in USGS that the majority of data is available and poised for integration. This is simply not the case for most data. In most offices and programs, scientists and managers lack guidelines and standards to help ensure that relevant and critical documentation is collected before, during, and after data is collected.  Scientists spend needless time and money reproducing data sets that have already been collected, because they are unable to locate pre-existing collections.  Historical analyses are unable to be conducted because relevant data sets are missing necessary contextual information.  In addition, the USGS lacks critical measures that oblige the scientists, who work for the public sector, to make datasets available. In the current business model, it is difficult to find data within the Survey, much less to access and understand it. The promotion process for research grade scientists emphasizes publishing, yet overlooks the critical notion that the data itself is of enormous value and should be preserved, described, and made available.

Good data management is a prerequisite for data integration, and the Data Management Team will develop mechanisms for incorporating data management into USGS science and develop ways to educate scientists of its value. The group seeks to elevate the practice of data management such that it is seen as a critical partner in the pursuit of science in USGS.

• An illuminating bit of satire

Membership

List members are able to view the subscribers list at https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/cdi-datamanagement.

Monthly Call Information

• Calls occur on the 2nd Monday of the month, 2:00-3:00p Eastern Time

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+1 202-640-1187   United States, Washington DC (Toll)

Conference ID: 904 146 139#

Focus Groups

Active Focus Groups (2019)

• Metadata Reviewers Community of Practice

Previously Active Focus Groups

• • Science Center Strategy Development (2016)
  • DM Website Process and Analyze Pages (2016)
  • Trusted Digital Repository (2016)
  • Exit Survey Working Group (2014)
  • Measuring Data Availability Focus Group (2013-2014)
  • Data Management Overarching Policy Working Group (2013)
  • Digital Object Identifiers Focus Group (2013)
  • Data Release Use Case Team (2012-2013)
  • DMWG Best Practices Focus Group (2011-2013)
  • DMWG Data Policy Focus Group (2011)

Team Accomplishments

• Geological Society of America Data Lifecycle Poster - Presentation 2015
• USGS Data Management Website - Launched 2012
• USGS DataBlast Poster - Presentation July 2012
• USGS Data Lifecycle Model  [Link on the USGS Data Management Page] - Launched 2011
  
  

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Past Meetings

Notes and recordings from past meetings.