Abstract
Abstract. The recent trend towards open data and open science as well as a demand for holistic and interdisciplinary research requires platforms that allow the distribution and exchange of research data, including geographic information. While the requirements and benefits of data exchange are widely discussed, there are few proposals on how to implement data platforms that not only permit the exchange of research data among researchers, but also permit to distribute research results and data to the interest public. We elaborate what points are important for implementing a (geographic) data repository and propose then to adopt the concept of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) as a solution for the implementation of research data repositories. We present as a case study the geographic data and document repository of the Chilean research Centre on Sustainable Urban Development (CEDEUS), the CEDEUS Observatory. Besides the infrastructure to host and distribute data, communication tools are an important component of such a data repository service. For this case study we analyse which things have worked well and which things have not worked well based on the experiences collected during three years of operation. We close with some recommendations for the implementation of data repositories for research.
Highlights
The recent trend towards open data and open science as well as a demand for holistic and interdisciplinary research requires platforms that allow the distribution and exchange of research data, including geographic information
Exploring the access statistics reveals about 200-300 individual visitors per month, and talking to people from inside and outside the two universities, it seems like the implementation of the research data repository and related services for CEDEUS can be considered successful
Adopting the Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) concept facilitates with the implementation of data and document repositories for research as it directs the focus on the five SDI components: data, technologies, policies, people and standards, that play a similar important role when building a data repository
Summary
Most likely a geographic data repository may be initiated because there is observed a need for sharing data among researchers that participate in a project, and may share data voluntarily. The following questions need to be answered to be able to cater to the future geographic data repository user:. What is the users knowledge about geographic data, mapping programs, and spatial data formats?. What data and documents do users have and in what data formats are they stored? What (geographic) data are needed by users for their research – and what other data could be attractive for them? What activities should the data repository user be able to do? In which ways should the repository user be able to communicate with the repository management team if he has questions or requests? : How can the repository management team respond to questions and inform users about interesting data and tools, etc In which ways should the repository user be able to communicate with the repository management team if he has questions or requests? And: How can the repository management team respond to questions and inform users about interesting data and tools, etc
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