Public access to U.S. Geological Survey publications and digital data

Abstract

Since its inception, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been committed to providing public access to scientific results and data generated from unclassified research funded wholly or in part by USGS. In 2016, USGS took the additional step of institutionalizing its open data practices with a formal Open Data Policy. This policy requires the packaging and cataloging of scientific results and data such that they are discoverable, accessible and digestible by all users (e.g. developers, researchers, citizens). The USGS Publications Warehouse (https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/) is the online citation index for all USGS-authored publications and serves as the authoritative source for information and access to USGS publications. USGS-funded research in external publications also is discoverable through the Publications Warehouse and is now made public not more than twelve months after the initial publication date. The Publications Warehouse site is built in such a way as to allow easy indexing by web search crawlers, and provides both basic and advanced search capabilities. It also provides a number of different Web services, including a customizable RSS feed and a MODs XML service. The Open Data Policy stipulates that USGS data are published coincident with and separate from any scholarly publication. There is no embargo period for data associated with USGS-authored or funded publications, including publications in scientific journals; the data are made freely available as of the initial publication date. USGS Science Data Catalog (https://data.usgs.gov/) is the public search and discovery tool for fully documented USGS data. The Catalog has greatly improved the ability of the public to locate and access machine readable and downloadable versions of USGS data and metadata since it was created in 2013. The data themselves are stored in one of many USGS trusted repositories, including: ScienceBase-the Bureau-wide repository and collaborative data management platform; the Water National Spatial Data Infrastructure Node that houses many place-based spatial data assets; and Program-specific repositories, such as the National Water Information System (NWIS). Datasets listed in the USGS Science Data Catalog are linked with associated publications accessible through the USGS Publications Warehouse via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Examples of discoverable, accessible and digestible USGS scientific results and data with relevance to Great Lakes Basin groundwater in the United States include: Hydrogeologic framework of the glacial aquifer system; Groundwater levels in the glacial aquifer system; Water quality in the glacial aquifer system; Domestic well locations and populations served; Input and output files for models published since October 1, 2016; Borehole geophysical logs.