Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 49)

1.1 Title of Activity
International Polar Year (IPY) Data and Information Service (DIS) for Distributed Data Management

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
IPY DIS

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Mark Parsons
World Data Center for Glaciology, Boulder
USA

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
CODATA
JCADM
WCRP CliC (IGOS)
IPA

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Canada
China
Germany
Netherlands
Russia
Australia
Denmark
Sweden
Austria
Japan
Norway
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
409, 150, 265, 342, 358, 398, 409, 462, 571, 572, 645, 750, 830, 879, 560, 196, 282, 125, 148, 275, 451, 234, 684, 685, 182, 252, 607, 627, 651, 24, 515, 125, 445, FP#406, FP#414

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Bipolar

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
3. Polar-global linkages/tele-connections
4. Exploring new frontiers
5. The polar regions as vantage points
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
2. Data Management

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

The WDC for Glaciology, Boulder and the Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) in collaboration with many others propose to host the IPY DIS described in the IPY Framework Document. The DIS will work closely with the Data Policy and Management Sub-Committee (Data Committee) and other data management bodies and observing networks to develop the IPY data and information policy and strategy. The DIS will then be the primary implementer of that strategy and policy recognizing that the strategy will need to evolve with the science needs and developments of IPY.
Although much will depend on the strategy that is developed, we envision the DIS as an overall data management consultant and coordinator and a central data portal for an internationally distributed data management system. The DIS will continue to establish close partnerships with data centers and organizations around the world to build on existing systems. We will also work with each specific IPY cluster to ensure appropriate centralized data description and distributed archiving. Regional or discipline-specific “affinity centers” coordinated by the DIS will facilitate appropriate data description and archive. For example the Frozen Ground Data Center at the WDC, Boulder is working closely with the permafrost cluster, while the proposed Arctic Peoples’ Observations Center (EoI 358) could coordinate community-based monitoring data. Other potential affinity centers based on our current partners could include Russian data, Chinese data, data for education and outreach, remote sensing data, geospatial data infrastructures (regional and global), paleoenvironmental data, marine biological data, bibliographic data, and others (a detailed spreadsheet is available on request). Many of these affinity centers will likely create their own means of access to the data. It is unrealistic for a central DIS to be the single or even primary means of access, but we would like to establish a means to automatically share metadata across the system through a common (perhaps XML-based) framework
Specific activities of the DIS could include:
•Collection (automated, where possible) of catalog metadata for all IPY projects and provision of Web-based portals to all IPY data archived around the world.
•Examination and implementation of data discovery tools and data presentation schemes such as an interoperable web-based map server to enhance data access through a Web portal (could include a locator map for all IPY projects).
•Identification of existing tools to facilitate data management, and build on those to meet the needs of the IPY community. For example, the Global Change Master Directory’s (GCMD) metadata authoring tool, docBuilder, could be customized.
•Serving as a focal point for cross-disciplinary data integration, especially across the natural and social sciences.
•Creation of appropriate management tools for non-numerical data such as interview transcripts, photographs, and videotapes.
•Collaboration with eGY to make data management best practices and principles available to researchers and agencies, via Web pages, workshops, and other channels.
•Acting as a clearinghouse and facilitator for data management and integration issues that need research, discussion, and resolution.
•Working with eGY to increase awareness of the value of data management for both numerical and non-numerical data.
•Responsive service to the IPY research community regarding data management
The DIS will take advantage of existing data management infrastructures, organizations, and technologies such as National and World Data Centers, the Joint Committee for Antarctic Data Management (JCADM), the GCMD, virtual observatories, and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure. This distributed system will allow for appropriate management of the various types of data including social science and physical science data, and analog collections. The distributed nature of the system will also encourage development of new and experimental data access methods, including data mining technology and innovative data presentation methods that facilitate data integration.
It is essential, however, to ensure ready and equitable access to and effective long-term preservation of the data. The DIS will assist distributed archives in adhering to sound data management principles and best practices as defined by the Data Committee, eGY, CODATA, WCRP CliC, JCADM, our partners, and other entities. We will ensure that these principles build upon existing international standards such the Open Archival Information System Reference Model and the ISO19115 metadata standard. The DIS will take advantage of emerging shared resources in the geosciences community, such as the effort to develop an international geophysical sample number (IGSN). In addition, the DIS could assist data providers in addressing human subjects protections and confidentiality issues for social science data and for other types of geo-referenced data.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
The DIS will be inherently inter-disciplinary in that it will link to all the data collected as part of IPY. Furthermore, the collaboration of discipline-specific affinity centers will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to data management issues such as common metadata standards. Many different individuals and centers have already agreed to collaborate. Furthermore, this proposal only lists lead contacts for other collaborating proposals, but these other collaborating proposals engage many other people, disciplines, and countries.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
The primary deliverables of this project will be a comprehensive set of well-described and archived data available soon after collection and for the long term.. In addition there will be a central data access portal to data distributed around the world. Additional deliverables could include innovative data discovery and transfer mechanisms, virtual observatories, greater use of international standards for storage and metadata to ensure long-term accessibility, improved and expanded information resources about data, and easier access to key data and information for users outside of the science community.

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?

Further details – The DIS will provide a centralized infrastructure including a Web server, data storage, and a metadata database system that will allow users to locate and acquire data of interest. These resources will be shared across many IPY projects. Support for the WDC Information Center might also be included.

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This activity is the start of a new programme that will outlive IPY

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
A consortium of regional or discipline-specific affinity centers will be coordinated by a central DIS office at the WDC, Boulder, while the eGY will provide linkages to expertise and systems not directly part of IPY. Each affinity center will facilitate the management and archive of data relevant to its region or discipline. Once the affinity centers have been established a steering group comprised of members from each center could guide the overall DIS approach. The IPY Data Committee should also develop an overarching data policy that will inform the workings of the DIS
A DIS Director will be responsible for the overall management of the DIS. The Director will liaise with the IPY Programme Office, the Data Committee, eGY, data system partners, and other national and international organizations, and will provide the overall data management consulting service, including disseminating best practices, conducting workshops, etc. Several data coordinators will identify, collect, and organize relevant data and metadata, and will assist with general data management and consulting activities. In collaboration with our partners, we will likely build on the JCADM distributed data model, where individual contributions are valued but quality-controlled through coordinators representing specialties within their organizations

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
One of the most significant legacies of the IPY will be the data collected. The DIS will ensure that the data and appropriate tools are well preserved and usable now and in the future. The DIS will also provide a long-term infrastructure for data management and access, in conjunction with the World Data Center system and other institutions. Building on existing infrastructure and working with numerous agencies will result in a legacy of collaborations and a new paradigm for data and information management which can serve as a springboard for new and emerging technologies and ideas for the polar regions and beyond.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
Not directly, but we plan to continually extend our collaboration to ensure data management for all IPY activities is addressed. We plan to work through our partners and the IPYIPO to make the necessary contacts. JCADM will be an excellent outreach vehicle for countries involved in Antarctic research, for example Malaysia recently joined JCADM. CODATA will also be an excellent vehicle with its involvement with the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) and general capacity building efforts. EGY will also help in this regard.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
We have links to all the major clusters identified by the JC, primarily through specific projects but also through major sub-groups. For example: The WDC for Glaciology is the central node for the Global Geocryological Data system and will be responsible for handling the data for the permafrost cluster. JCADM will be involved in many of the Antarctic efforts. The Australian Antarctic Data Center is linked with the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) (EoI 83), lead for Antarctic Marine Biodiversity. APOC (EoI 358) has close ties to much of the social science community. Etcetera. We would ultimately like to link to all the clusters and would look to the Data Committee and IPO to facilitate that interaction.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
Since we are the primary data management activity, we would appreciate the opportunity to review the data management plans of other proposals.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
A major goal of the DIS will be to educate scientists, especially developing scientists (e.g., graduate students) on the importance of data management to scientist. The WDC, Boulder is exploring the possibility of developing a graduate certificate in Scientific Data Management at the University of Colorado. If that goes forward, the IPY DIS could serve as an excellent case study. We also plan to leverage eGY’s major education effort and contribute to CODATA’s involvement in WSIS.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We have partnered with two major IPY outreach efforts. The first is being led by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, which is hosting an outreach workshop in July in collaboration with the IPO director and the JC leads for outreach. The second is the Digital Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE) which has an Earth Exploration Toolbox--step-by-step instructions for educators to access and effectively use Earth science data in an educational context and conducts--and Data Services Workshops that provide a mechanism to bridge the gap between the data providers and scientists and curriculum developers and the educators. The eGY also has a strong outreach program. Finally, one of our partners, Annette deCharon proposes to create a thematic database of environmental, biological, and cultural information that is accessed from multimedia interfaces designed to engage non-scientific audiences (EoI 571).

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
We have proposed to the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct two planning workshops to design the organizational framework for IPY data management. We have proposed to NSF to develop a pilot data management project for community-based monitoring data. We have proposed to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) along with several of our partners to develop an XML-based data discovery and access system that could be readily expanded to other projects. We will request additional support from NSF, NASA and other US Federal science agencies in the future. We are also pursuing foundation support for long-term archiving and overall coordination of the DIS. We anticipate regional centers will receive primary funding from local sources.

3.11 Additional Comments

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Mr Mark Parsons
WDC Glaciology, Boulder
UCB 449 University of Colorado Boulder, CO
80304
USA

Tel:          303-492-2359
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         303-492-2468
Email:       parsonsm@nsidc.org

Second Contact
Dr Bill Peterson
eGY, LASP
1234 Innovation Dr. Boulder, CO
80303
USA

Tel:          303-492-0686
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         N/A
Email:      Bill.Peterson@lasp.colorado.edu

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation