Isolated open data repositories
Environmental and scientific data is often siloed in isolated repositories, project-specific databases, or organizational websites. These systems typically lack interoperability and cross-repository search capabilities, making it difficult for researchers, policymakers, and local communities to locate, access, and synthesize relevant data. This fragmentation hampers collaborative research and informed decision-making but also poses a risk to the long-term preservation and stewardship of critical environmental datasets.
Solutions
1.
Map and assess available infrastructure
Audit the tools and platforms you use for storing and sharing environmental data, identifying both robust platforms and gaps in the landscape.
2.
Develop or adopt federated data platforms
Look for platforms that allow distributed repositories to interoperate while maintaining local control over data.
3.
Promote the use of common metadata schemas and open standards
Adopting common metadata schemas and open standards into your own work can improve discoverability and usability across systems while contributing to standardized qualities.
4.
Incentivize repository linkage and data sharing
Work to build links between data sets through shared platforms, open and interoperable data standards, and accessible methods for requesting data.
Know of another resource or solution?
Resources
The General Repository Comparison Chart and FAIRsharing Collection
The General Repository Comparison Chart and FAIRsharing Collection describes the specifications and differences of several widely used and well-resourced open repositories, aiming to help researchers make decisions about selecting a general repository.
Re3data.org
Re3data.org is a comprehensive global registry that catalogs research data repositories across all academic disciplines, making it easier for researchers to find suitable platforms for data sharing and preservation.
Current CoreTrustSeal
Current CoreTrustSeal offers a widely recognized certification for data repositories, signifying adherence to international standards for reliable and sustainable data management. This certification helps researchers and institutions identify repositories that are committed to long-term data stewardship, security, and accessibility.
Research Data Alliance
Research Data Alliance is a global community dedicated to advancing data standardization and sharing best practices. Their recommendations and outputs help researchers to overcome barriers to data sharing, foster collaboration among researchers, and promote open science worldwide.
The Environmental Information Exchange Network
The Environmental Information Exchange Network has a list of approved exchange network data standards.
The Ecological Metadata Language (EML)
The Ecological Metadata Language (EML) defines a comprehensive vocabulary and a readable XML markup syntax for documenting research data. It is in widespread use in the earth and environmental sciences, and increasingly in other research disciplines as well. EML is a community-maintained specification, and evolves to meet the data documentation needs of researchers who want to openly document, preserve, and share data and outputs.
Internet of Water's Principles
Internet of Water’s Principles is a set of guidelines created to help public agencies and other organizations manage and share water-related data.