Developing a USGS Legacy Data Inventory to Preserve and Release Historical USGS Data

Legacy data (n) - Information stored in an old or obsolete format or computer system that is, therefore, difficult to access or process. (Business Dictionary, 2016)

For over 135 years, the U.S. Geological Survey has collected diverse information about the natural world and how it interacts with society. Much of this legacy information is one-of-a-kind and in danger of being lost forever through decay of materials, obsolete technology, or staff changes. Several laws and orders require federal agencies to preserve and provide the public access to federally collected scientific information. The information is to be archived in a manner that allows others to examine the materials for new information or interpretations. Data-at-Risk is a systematic way for the USGS to continue efforts to meet the challenge of preserving and making accessible enormous amount of information locked away in inaccessible formats. Data-at-Risk efforts inventory and prioritize inaccessible information and assist with the preservation and release of the information into the public domain. Much of the information the USGS collects has permanent or long-term value to the Nation and the world through its contributions to furthering scientific discovery, public policies, or decisions. These information collections represent observations and events that will never be repeated and warrant preservation for future generations to learn and benefit from them.

Principal Investigator : John L Faundeen, Anthony L Everette
Cooperator/Partner : Lisa Zolly, VeeAnn Atnipp Cross, Susan K Kemp, Stephanie Galvan, Rose Cunningham, Ralph Storey, David L Govoni

Goal: Expand the USGS contribution to scientific discovery and knowledge by demonstrating a long-term approach to inventorying, prioritizing and releasing to the public the wealth of USGS legacy scientific data.

Objectives:

1. Implement a systematic workflow to create a USGS Legacy Data Inventory that catalogs and describes known USGS legacy data sets.
2. Develop a methodology to evaluate and prioritize USGS legacy data sets based on USGS mission and program objectives and potential of successful release within USGS records management and open data policies.
3. Preserve and release select, priority legacy data sets through the USGS IPDS data release workflow
4. Analyze the time and resources required to preserve/release legacy data and develop estimates to inform future legacy data inventory efforts.