DOE generates scientific research data in many forms, both text and non-text. OSTI's databases make the Department’s text-based information easily available (see the DOE Science Accelerator Advanced Search page), but users may also want access to related non-text data. OSTI has developed a discovery tool, the DOE Data Explorer (DDE) to help meet this need. Making data collections more visible, highlighting the DOE Data Centers, and working in data-focused forums and activities are some of the ways that OSTI attends to non-text data as an important component of scientific and technical information.
The DOE Data Explorer (DDE) – A Tool for Data Discovery
The DOE Data Explorer (DDE) is a data discovery tool designed to make the Department's scientific research data visible and easily accessible to all levels of users. It identifies and describes collections of DOE-sponsored, non-text data. These collections reside at data centers, at user facilities, at national laboratories, at colleges and universities, at the websites of professional organizations, consortiums, corporate institutions, international organizations, etc. Almost all the collections are available for free access, though some do require that you register for a password. A key component of each DDE citation is a link to the data collection where it sits on its host server. This allows users to take full advantage of the highly specialized interfaces that have been developed for many of these collections. The interfaces provide customized ways to search data, compare sets of data, visualize data, and package it for download and re-use.
DOE Data Centers – Providing Expertise and Specialized Services
Many of DOE’s important collections of research data are maintained in officially designated data centers. To quote one of several definitions recognized in the scientific data field, a data center is: “(1) An institutionally supported facility providing convenient access to, manipulation of, and/or distribution of data sets (including supporting information and expertise) for a wide community of users. It has a long term charter (not tied to the lifetime of a specific project). A data center can create Special Data Products when needed. (2) A facility storing, maintaining, and making available data sets for expected use in ongoing and/or future activities. Data centers provide selection and replication of data and needed documentation and, often, the generation of user tailored data products.” (Source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)
Data Forums and Activities – Collaborating on the Issues
OSTI represents DOE's interests in several scientific and technical data-related groups. Active participation ensures that needs and issues, decisions and implementations, are communicated between the Department and the scientific data community.
Papers and Publications – Documenting Progress
The subject of digital data has become a topic in itself, not only in DOE, but across all the federal agencies that have scientific research responsibilities. How can the huge amounts of raw, scientific data currently being generated or collected be effectively stored, described, distributed, analyzed, accessed, referenced in published literature, and managed for long-term preservation and re-use? Check this page for links to important white papers, presentations, published news, and workshop reports that document this ongoing discussion.
