STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS’ ROLE IN DATA MANAGEMENT, PRESERVATION, AND RESCUE

Many governmental agencies are mandated to provide information to the public. For example, the Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA) is mandated to explore for, characterize, and report Alabama’s mineral, energy, water, and biological resources in support of economic development, conservation, management, and public policy for the betterment of Alabama’s citizens, communities, and businesses. To that end, the GSA is involved with research into various resources, such as shale gas and oil sands, which potentially could be developed within the state.

Tightening budgets mean that well-documented and discoverable legacy data (including physical samples) are critical for continued scientific research and economic growth. Thus, GSA has been involved in several data management, preservation, and rescue projects, including the National Geothermal Data System and the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program. This work has highlighted the need for better data management training as well as the need for workflows to simplify data rescue. Standards for metadata, such as those found at the US Geoscience Information Network (USGIN), have been adopted at GSA and are being applied to legacy records through semi-automated workflows.

One of the biggest challenges at GSA is the management of the physical samples such as cores. Researchers want more detailed information prior to a site visit, as they have limited resources, including time, to spend gathering information. Therefore, it has become critical for GSA to have better systems in place for tracking and management in order to better serve stakeholders. Thus, GSA is in the process of registering cores and related samples for International Geo Sample Numbers (IGSNs) through the System for Earth Sample Registration. IGSNs allow the GSA to use asset management software to better curate the physical samples. Involvement with groups and programs, such as EarthCube’s iSamples project, the CODATA Task Group on Science and Management of Physical Objects in the Digital Era, and the Federation of Earth Science Information Partner’s Data Stewardship Committee, will ensure that GSA continues to use best practices and standards for sample identification, documentation, citation, curation, and sharing.