Planning for a New Data Preservation System for the Nation

John C. SteinmetzIndiana Geological Survey

Linda C. GundersenU.S. Geological Survey

and

Tamara L. DickinsonU.S. Geological Survey

National Energy Policy Act of 2005

National Geological and Geophysical

Data Preservation Program Act of 2005

Implementation Plan delivered to Congress October 10, 2006

http://energy.usgs.gov

Studies by the American Geological Institute

Sponsored by Department of Energy and the petroleum industry

Phase I: 1993-1994Assessment, feasibility, and proposal of an

NGDRS

Phase II: 1995-1997Development of standards and design of clearhouseAGI National Directory of Geoscience Data

Repositories

Phase III: 1998-2001: Implementation and Operation of an National

Geoscience Data Repository System (NGDRS)

Background investigations:

NationalGeoscienc

eData

Repository

System

&

Geotrek

National Research Council

Geoscience Data and Collections:

National Resources in Peril

www.nap.edu

2002

Background investigations:

Committee Sponsorship

• American Association of Petroleum Geologists

• AAPG Foundation• American Geological Institute• Department of Energy–Fossil Energy• Department of Energy–Yucca Mountain• Geological Society of America• National Science Foundation (EAR)• Paleontological Society• Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation• Schlumberger, Ltd.• Smithsonian Institution• U.S. Geological Survey

NRC, 2002:

Minimum Estimate of the Volume of Geoscience Data & Collections in the

U.S.UNITS TOTAL #

Core (ice) tubes 14,500Core (rock/sediment) boxes 8,015,715Cuttings boxes 10,402,000Fossils specimens 122,935,000Geochemical analyses paper 1,750,000Minerals/Rocks specimens 828,000Other well records variety2,045,000Scout tickets variety 21,960,350Seismic (2- & 3-D) miles & miles2 357,270,149Thin sections slides 647,000Velocity surveys paper & digital 87,500Washed residues bags 180,000Well logs variety 6,021,700

NRC, 2002

24

3212

12

10

27

24

18

24

8

15

66

0

1-5

6-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

> 40

Core space available in State Geological Surveys

2002 2006

Percentageavailable

n = 34 n = 41

The Nature of the Challenge

The Nature of the Challenge

Exposure to the elements

Maine Geological Survey

The Nature of the Challenge

Over-crowded facilities

Indiana Geological Survey

The Nature of the Challenge

Little or no curation

Indiana Geological Survey

Geologic Materials Center,

Eagle River, Alaska

The Nature of the Challenge

“Temporary” storage

National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program Act

• USGS administration in collaboration with AASG

• NCGMP-FAC oversight– Planning and implementation– Prioritization of allocation of funds

• Initially energy-related data and collections• As funding allows: water and minerals data and collections,

geologic hazards, and engineering geology

• NGGDPP Act:– Distributed system of national and state data archives for

DoI agencies and state geological surveys– National Digital Catalog– Technical and financial assistance– Authorization of $30MM annually for each of 5 years

Working Group to the NCGMP Federal Advisory Committeeto advise it concerning implementation of the

National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program Act of 2005

• John Steinmetz, Chair, Indiana Geological Survey• Edith Allison, U. S. Department of Energy• Odin Christensen, Newmont Mining• Beverly DeJarnett, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology• William Harrison, III, Western Michigan University• Christopher Keane, American Geological Institute• Rich Lane, National Science Foundation• Gary Lore, Minerals Management Service• Peter Lyttle, U.S. Geological Survey• Brenda Pierce, U.S. Geological Survey• James Robertson, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History

Survey• Peter Scholle, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral

Resources

National Energy Policy Act of 2005

National Geological and Geophysical

Data Preservation Program Act of 2005

Implementation Plan delivered to Congress October 10, 2006

http://energy.usgs.gov

National Digital Catalog

• Distributed and redundant• “broker” of standards, not a “driver”• Minimal metadata• Interoperable• Search & retrieve

– Metadata of the system’s archives– Digital data

Technical and financial assistance

• Component shares– Federal

•Operation of National Digital Catalog

•Federal share of awards for Federal projects

– State•State share of awards for State projects

• Competitive, peer-reviewed proposals

Physical Infrastructure Awards

• Construction of physical facilities• Equipment to prepare, store, retrieve, and examine collections and data• Operations• One-time, non-recurring• Need to demonstrate

maintenance will continue

Digital Infrastructure Awards•Conversion of paper records to digital formats•Updating of digital materials and formats•Staffing for computer programming and database construction

Outreach and Applications Awards

• Raise public awareness, interpretation, application,

and use• Training sessions

and workshops• Minimize duplication

and maximize interpretation

Special Needs Awards

• “Data rescues,” i.e., imminent danger of loss by

deteriorating surroundings or discard• Likely more prevalent at outset

of the Program

Proposal provisions

• Matching•1 : 1 / Federal : State match•Public or private•Congressional clarification needed on

valuation of collections & data

• Maintenance of existing funds•“In addition to” funds already applied

• Measurable performance measures

Comprehensive Proposal & Business Plan

• Purpose and justification• Prioritization of needs• Strategy to accomplish proposed goals• Demonstration of long-term commitment to

achieve the goals• Incorporation of partnerships to the extent possible• A plan for outreach• Demonstration of accessibility

Eligibility

• Any Interior agency

• Any State geological survey

• Partnerships of both, with or without private partners

• Performance measures met and reported

Next steps

• Office of Science & Technology Policy is surveying the status of federal research collections

• State geological surveys to embark on a similar assessment• NSF planning to conduct a survey of museums & institutions with NSF collections• U.S. Geological Survey requesting budget line for data preservation• Association of American State Geologists seeking Congressional appropriation