Data Management Procedures

Data Policy

The purpose of this policy is to facilitate full and open access to, and confident use of, the data and information used in and produced by programs and projects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. View Data Policy. This Data Policy has been updated to reflect the inclusion of all Council-funded science and technical projects (see below).

In 2020, the existing Data Management Program began providing data management services to all Council-funded science and technical projects which ensures that data are standardized and consistently maintained, archived, and made publicly available through the Alaska Ocean Observing System and DataOne data portals. 

Metadata Assistance

The Data Policy specifies that project metadata must follow the FGDC (Federal Geographic Data Committee) metadata standards. While the selection of appropriate standards is dependent on the nature of your metadata collection and publication process, preferably the ISO 191* series of standards should be used. For more information, please visit the FGDC Website. NOTE: There is no "right" or "wrong" tool to use - any tool that can generate FGDC compliant metadata records appropriate to the data being collected (including those not listed) may be used.

A list of tools for creating geospatial metadata in compliance with the ISO 191** series can be found at the following link:

Geospatial Metadata Tools (FGDC Website)

Recommended Tool for Creating Metadata Records for EVOS Projects

Research Workspace

The Research Workspace is a web-based platform for collaboratively managing science projects through the entire data lifecycle. Since 2012, the platform has been used as a data management system to serve the needs of the Herring and Long-Term Monitoring Programs and the EVOS Trustee Council. Starting in 2020,  non-program, individual science and technical projects were provided access to the Research Workspace platform. The Research Workspace provides data sharing, a metadata editor, and archiving services to all Council-funded science programs and projects. Access to the Research Workspace can be requested using this link.

Archives Approved for Permanent Storage of Datasets Created from EVOSTC Projects

Archive Location Dataset Types
Research Workspace DataONE Member Node Final curated data sets from Council-funded programs and projects
AOOS Gulf of Alaska data portal Final curated and provisional data sets from Council-funded programs and projects

Approval of additional archives may be requested from the Data Manager.

In order to be approved for archiving of datasets, requested archives must meet the criteria outlined in the Data Policy.