SUPPORTING GEOINFORMATICS WITH SITE-BASED DATA CURATION: COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION FRAMEWORK

Well-designed data and metadata standards are critical to geoinformatics tools and technologies. These standards are best developed through close collaborations among geoscientists, information scientists, and software developers. In this talk we discuss the development of Minimum Information framework for the curation of “site-based” research data, as well as the significant role of non-informatician geoscientists in the collaborative development process.

The Site-Based Data Curation Project, funded by IMLS, aims to develop best practices for the curation of data collected at scientifically significant sites. The initial case study focused on geobiology at Yellowstone National Park, and brought together geoscientists, park representatives, and repository developers. The second case study focused on paleontology research and curation at the La Brea Tar Pits, and involved close consultation with La Brea collections managers and excavators, as well as outside researchers who used the collection. In both cases, Minimum Information Framework (MIFs), were developed through diverse methods of participatory engagement, including workshops, focus groups, interviews, and collaborative information modeling and systems analysis. The resulting MIFs identify three classes of information (information about a field campaign; a site’s structure; and observations and measurements) critical to the long-term reuse of site-based geoscience data. We believe that these MIFs may inform future repository, data standards and tool development.

MIF development was highly dependent on involvement of “domain-researchers” – the geobiologists, geochemists, and other geoscience field researchers that shared their expertise, time, and insights with our team of information scientists and data archiving specialists. Contributions from non-informaticians were critical in guiding the analysis and creation of a more precise information framework that effectively documents site structure and conditions. Future development of geoinformatics standards, tools, and data resources will therefore depend on similar collaborations, with significant contributions needed from both geoinformatists and non-informaticians.