FSP FAQs: Data

Access to or release of the USGS data may be restricted because of security, privacy, confidentiality, or other constraints, or data mentioned in the published product are not used as a basis for the conclusions. [Read More]

If the non-USGS funded data have not been made publicly available by the data owner, the USGS can suggest or request but cannot require the data be made publicly available. If the data are not made available, a statement indicating that at the time of publication the data were not available from the responsible non-USGS agency should be included in the associated information product. [Read More]

Citations referring to unpublished data are allowed when the citation refers to content or auxiliary information that is not essential to ensuring others can replicate the results or evaluate the validity of the data used to support the conclusions of the scholarly publication. [Read More]

For USGS data products stored in non-USGS repositories, review, approval, release, and preservation requirements apply. A copy of the metadata record that describes the data asset and includes a resolvable Digital Object Identifier (DOI), must be added to the USGS Science Data Catalog, using the individual metadata upload page. [Read more]

USGS scientific software and data follow the same basic FSP requirements for review and approval and both are considered noninterpretive information. Both releases are subject to the requirements of the 2013 OSTP directive on increasing access to the results of federally funded scientific research. [Read more]

Additional guidance is available on the USGS Data Management web page and the FSP web page.

OSTP's February 22, 2013 memorandum Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research and OMB's memorandum M-13-13, Open Data Policy—Managing Information as an Asset require the release of scientific data. The Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research at the USGS provides information related to how the Bureau meets these OSTP and OMB requirements. [Read more]

Regardless of authorship, if the research was federally funded, then the funding agency is responsible for providing public access to those data. [Read more]

The preferred path for USGS data release is through USGS data repositories or portals (e.g. Science Base, NWIS, BioData) to ensure that the USGS maintains the authoritative copy of the data it releases. [Read more]

Raw data refers to digital and nondigital data that are unprocessed and unverified. Raw data must be archived according to the USGS records disposition schedule, can be released as either provisional or approved data, and may be subject to FOIA requirements. [Read more]

USGS-funded scientific data are data collected with federally appropriated funds provided to the USGS as part of the congressionally-enacted USGS budget. Data collected with funding from another Federal or a non-Federal cooperator/collaborator are not considered USGS funded data. [Read more]

No. Representations of data in tables, graphs, plots, maps, and other illustrations in such publications cannot qualify as a data release because they do not comply with open data requirements described in the USGS Public Access Plan.

Use of non-Federal repositories is acceptable however the authoritative copy of the data must be hosted on USGS servers or a federally maintained data service. A metadata record must be included in the USGS Science Data Catalog that includes a DOI link to the data source. [Read more]

The agreement or contract with the cooperators/collaborators should specify data management responsibilities, including curation and release. This information should also be included in the USGS project DMP; scientific data must be reviewed and include metadata. [Read more].

Aggregated data from an analytical laboratory or measurements made directly during fieldwork are examples of datasets. If datasets are combined into a searchable product or system, the product or system is a database. The National Water Information System (NWIS) is a database; data retrieved from NWIS are datasets. [Read more].

USGS data collection and research activities are governed by work plans. Work plans ensure scientific goals are achievable and appropriate to the mission of the USGS. [Read more]

Include a complete bibliographic citation for the data source in the references section of the publication. Refer to the USGS Data Management website section titled "Citing Your Data." [Read more]

If the party collecting the data is another Federal agency, that agency has the primary responsibility for releasing the data according to their specific requirements. [Read more]

If data are collected by USGS employees, students, emeritus and other volunteers, and contractors to benefit the USGS, or using USGS funds, it is the responsibility of the USGS to ensure appropriate release. An agreement between the cooperator/collaborator and USGS should specify the data management responsibilities. [Read more]

Documentation and recordkeeping requirements associated with data collection and research activities are found in the USGS Mission-Specific Disposition Schedules and General Records Disposition Schedules.

Data intended for public release are subject to USGS FSP requirements including one data review and one metadata review, reconciliation, and Bureau approval by Science Center Directors or their designees. Data are never placed in the IPDS. [Read more]