Data preservation examples: good and poor storage of samples.
Courtesy of Indiana Geological Survey.

 


Preservation of geoscience data and materials in the United States is currently the responsibility of a set of disparate facilities and programs. There are no national standards, procedures, and protocols for the collections and minimal coordination between responsible parties. Although some collection facilities are excellent, more commonly, data and materials reside in inadequately cataloged, overfilled, and disorganized storage areas that were not designed as data repositories. Many Federal and State geological repositories are at or near capacity and are unable to accept additional materials.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) established the NGGDPP in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and outlined the following goals:

  • Archive geological, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples
  • Provide a national catalog of archived materials
  • Provide technical and financial assistance to State geological surveys and relevant Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus for archived materials

AASG/USGS Geoscience Data Preservation Techniques Workshop

The AASG/USGS Geoscience Data Preservation Techniques Workshop proceedings are available at the following persistent URL (or PURL): http://hdl.handle.net/2022/6471

The workshop brought together for the first time 50 geoscience data preservation specialists from state and federal geological surveys, and it provided a venue for the
participants to share best management practices of sample and data preservation, cataloging, and accessibility.

The Proceedings volume consists of the workshop agenda, abstracts and pdfs of the oral and poster presentations, a list of attendees, and a photo album of the two days' events. The Proceedings have been issued as Indiana Geological Survey Open-File Series 09-13, and they are also available on CD-ROM for five dollars each.

Data Preservation Partnerships

The Program, administered by the USGS, comprises State geological surveys and agencies within the DOI that maintain geological and geophysical data and samples. Together these diverse groups are working to:

  • Inventory collections of materials and data that exist in State geological surveys and DOI agencies to identify preservation and data-rescue needs
  • Design and begin populating a National Digital Catalog
  • Develop guidelines for distribution of Program funds and establish priorities for Program activities
  • Establish minimum standards, procedures, and protocols for preserving and archiving collections of geological and geophysical materials and data

The focus of NGGDPP activities is currently limited to State geological surveys that elect to participate and agencies with the DOI. However, valuable collections exist elsewhere and partnerships with industry and academia are encouraged to preserve additional archival material. 

Program Announcement and Implementation Plan

Program Announcement No. 10HQPA0012
Issue Date: October 23, 2009
Closing Date & Time: November 23, 2009
URL:
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=pcXcKrGJD6kGp
8g1bQR2GwLMGsvkz5FdG6CSzKvJk1Dn0hQQfz1l!-1163459943?oppId=49967&mode=VIEW

Program Announcement No. 09HQPA0009
Issue Date: December 11, 2008
Closing Date & Time: January 26, 2009, 4:30 PM EST
URL:
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=JC1CW62jzs27Y1ZFpzGFv3wyZ1m7j0GYh56f0FyjLtyyqsv
3yDTQ!-1378680570?oppId=44315&flag2006=false&mode=VIEW

Program Announcement No. 08HQPA0015
Issue Date: February 27, 2008
Closing Date & Time: March 31, 2008, Midnight (EDT)

Implementation Plan for the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program
 (October 10, 2006) [PDF, 1.2 MB]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Data preservation example: cores in need of rescue

Courtesy of Maine Geological Survey.

An example of cores in need of rescue.

What is the Data Preservation Challenge?

Scattered across the Nation are geological and geophysical collections of materials and data, in a wide range of formats that have long been recognized as valuable. Information that resides in these collections, as diverse as rock and ice cores, fossils, rock samples, geophysical tapes, and paper well logs, is invaluable to future scientific research and educational activities. The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) is working to identify, catalog, and preserve a wide range of materials and data that support a breadth of activities, including, but not limited to:

  • Identifying new oil and gas and mineral deposits
  • Contributing to research on climate change
  • Addressing issues related to water quality
  • Enhancing the ability to identify geologic hazards
  • Supporting research on development of unconventional energy sources.