Geoscience Data and Collections
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
The Need for Geoscience Data and Collections, 1
Geoscience Data and Collections at Risk, 2
The Charge to the Committee, 2
What Should Be Preserved?, 2
Options for Long-term Archiving and Access to Geoscience Data and Collections, 4
The Time Is Now, 7
1 INTRODUCTION 8
Intent and Outline of This Report, 8
What Are Geoscience Data and Collections and Why Are They Important?, 9
Investment in and Commercial Value of Geoscience Data and Collections, 14
Users and Beneficiaries of Geoscience Data and Collections, 18
2 NATURE OF THE CHALLENGE 22
Volume of Geoscience Data and Collections, 22
A National Shortage of Space, 25
Additional Sources of Loss of Geoscience Data and Collections, 27
Inaccessible Geoscience Data and Collections, 32
Priorities for Preservation of Geoscience Data and Collections, 34
3 GEOSCIENCE DATA AND COLLECTIONS TODAY 40
Introduction, 40
Cores and Cuttings, 40
Media Containing Subsurface Data, 46
Paleontological Collections, 50
Rock and Mineral Collections, 53
Other Data and Documentation, 54
Summary, 56
4 MANAGING GEOSCIENCE DATA AND COLLECTIONS: CHALLENGES AND PRACTICES 57
Introduction, 57
xii CONTENTS
Storage of Geoscience Data and Collections, 57
Curation of Geoscience Data and Collections, 59
Cataloging and Indexing, 63
Access, 64
Discovery and Outreach, 67
Summary, 68
5 REGIONAL CENTERS: A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE 70
Partnerships and Consortia, 70
Repository Alternatives: Is One Too Few? Are 100 Too Many?, 71
The Regional Centers Concept, 73
Additional Roles and Responsibilities of the Federal Government, 77
Incentives, 79
6 CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS 80
REFERENCES 82
APPENDIXES
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 87
B PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE 90
C QUESTIONNAIRE 96
D TYPES OF GEOSCIENCE DATA AND COLLECTIONS 98
E GLOSSARY 99
F ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 102
G NSF DIVISION OF EARTH SCIENCES (EAR) GUIDELINES FOR GEOSCIENCE DATA AND
COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION AND DISTRIBUTION 104
H WEB SITES 106