Developing Criteria to Establish Trusted Digital Repositories

Authors

  • John Faundeen U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2017-022

Keywords:

Trusted, Digital, Repository, USGS, Preservation, Criteria

Abstract

This paper details the drivers, methods, and outcomes of the U.S. Geological Survey’s quest to establish criteria by which to judge its own digital preservation resources as Trusted Digital Repositories. Drivers included recent U.S. legislation focused on data and asset management conducted by federal agencies spending $100M USD or more annually on research activities. The methods entailed seeking existing evaluation criteria from national and international organizations such as International Standards Organization (ISO), U.S. Library of Congress, and Data Seal of Approval upon which to model USGS repository evaluations. Certification, complexity, cost, and usability of existing evaluation models were key considerations. The selected evaluation method was derived to allow the repository evaluation process to be transparent, understandable, and defensible; factors that are critical for judging competing, internal units. Implementing the chosen evaluation criteria involved establishing a cross-agency, multi-disciplinary team that interfaced across the organization. 

Author Biography

John Faundeen, U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center

John Faundeen has worked as the EROS Archivist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observations and Science (EROS) Center since 2001. His current role involves policy, oversight and guidance for the observational, cartographic, and elevation data created and maintained at EROS. John allocates most of his time to preservation and appraisal functions. The preservation activity includes environmentally managing a 20,000 square foot archive containing 100,000 rolls of analog film and thousands of magnetic tapes. Establishing an off-site archive containing several petabytes of electronic data continues to be a centerpiece of EROS’s data management risk mitigation strategy. MOUs with the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration were established based upon proven data management capabilities. He has previously served as the acting USGS Records Officer on two separate occasions.

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Published

2017-04-19

Issue

Vol. 16 (2017)

Section

Proceedings Papers

Categories

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