Improving the Accessibility and Usability of Scientific Data: Data Management and Data Services for the Alaska CSC

Through its many research projects and initiatives, the Alaska Climate Science Center (AK CSC) collects important scientific data that can be shared and used by resource managers in decision-making or other scientists who may access and use the data to move forward the state of the science on a particular topic. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), through the work of staff at its International Arctic Research Center (IARC), has become one of the primary providers of data services for the Alaska CSC to help make this data available and accessible and to ensure that it meets required standards and is properly managed, stored, and used. In particular, ongoing UAF data stewardship activities include ensuring that AK CSC researchers comply with metadata standards, and verifying that final data and other associated research products are housed in approved, robust, and redundant repositories. This project seeks to further develop and augment these services by improving access to digital data resources by researchers, community members, and decision makers in Alaska.  



UAF will utilize the current IARC Data Archive (http://climate.iarc.uaf.edu/geonetwork) as a foundation for exploring the development of tools to encourage real-world applications of AK CSC data. Of particular interest is the use of web-mapping technologies to promote the use of AK CSC research. As one example, this project will employ MapVenture, a web-publishing platform (developed within IARC and the AK CSC), as a pathway to the discovery, exploration, and utilization of geospatial data. Among other functions, MapVenture includes tools that explain how to obtain source data, as well as examples of how map layers can be used in other contexts. Tools and services developed through this effort will serve as a bridge between the information found in technical publications, standard project reports, and data archives generated by AK CSC research and the users of that information by providing immediate, hands-on interaction with scientific data.