Facilitating open exchange of data and information

• Published in: Earth science informatics Vol. 8; no. 4; pp. 721 - 739
• Main Authors: Gallagher, James, Orcutt, John, Simpson, Pauline, Wright, Dawn, Pearlman, Jay, Raymond, Lisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Communities; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Exchange; Fitness; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Interoperability; Oceanography; Oceans; Ontology; Open data; Policies; Recommendations; Review Article; Simulation and Modeling; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Sustainability; Data publication; Governance; Open data; Interoperability
• ISSN: 1865-0473; 1865-0481
• DOI: 10.1007/s12145-014-0202-2

By broad consensus, Open Data presents great value. However, beyond that simple statement, there are a number of complex, and sometimes contentious, issues that the science community must address. In this review, we examine the current state of the core issues of Open Data with the unique perspective and use cases of the ocean science community: interoperability; discovery and access; quality and fitness for purpose; and sustainability. The topics of Governance and Data Publication are also examined in detail. Each of the areas covered are, by themselves, complex and the approaches to the issues under consideration are often at odds with each other. Any comprehensive policy on Open Data will require compromises that are best resolved by broad community input. In the final section of the review, we provide recommendations that serve as a starting point for these discussions.