CSAS&L Data Science

CSAS&L develops, produces, and maintains a broad suite of terrestrial and aquatic data systems, established under the former USGS Biological Informatics Program, and used for biodiversity assessment and decision-making. With the incorporation of the enterprise scientific data mission from the former Geospatial Information Office and the information science and services mission of the USGS Library System, CSAS&L is well positioned with the diversity of skills and expertise needed to provide Data Science infrastructure, leadership, and expertise within the USGS. 

Biodiversity Science, Applied Research Computing, and Library and Information Science are core focus areas for CSAS&L. While each of these research areas provides a suite of targeted products and disciplinary expertise, each also draws upon connections to the others. Biodiversity Science relies upon foundational Library and Information Science principles of data organization and description to make those data continuously actionable. Additionally, Biodiversity Science depends upon Applied Research Computing to provide substantial computation power for processing large volumes of data to facilitate timely understanding and decision-making. Applied Research Computing, in turn, relies upon Library and Information Science capabilities to ensure that large, heterogeneous datasets used are accessible, organized, well-documented, and persistent. Applied Research Computing's true value cannot be realized without the Biodiversity Science expertise required to glean insights and understanding from large, processed datasets. Relationships among these CSAS&L core capabilities are thus multi-dimensional. 

Human Dimensions is the nexus of our core activities, as users are the focus for everything we do. Identifying our stakeholders, understanding their priorities, and addressing and anticipating their needs drive CSAS&L development of tools, capabilities, and resources in Biodiversity Science, Applied Research Computing, and Library and Information Science areas. Human Dimensions provides the 'feedback loop' that helps us define, refine, and establish priority products and new opportunities to serve communities of practice, and is a growing area of action and research potential for CSAS&L. As depicted in Figure 1, Human Dimensions is both the cog that drives our research activities, and the bridge that connects them.