Background and Purpose

A global movement is underway to increase access to data to enable greater transparency, utility, and integration capabilities to expand the scope and scale of science. The increased access to scientific data has resulted in a need to maximize investment in Federal data through adoption of findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles (Wilkinson and others, 2016). Federal science agencies are recognizing the importance of open and reusable science and are establishing mechanisms and policies to support scientists in the release of scientific data (Holdren, 2013; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2020; U.S. Department of State, 2021; Nelson, 2022; U.S. Department of Commerce, 2022; U.S. Geological Survey [USGS], 2023).

The USGS provides science about the natural hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods; water, energy, minerals, and other natural resources that humans rely on; health of ecosystems and environment; and impacts of climate and land-use change. Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the USGS is the primary water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping bureau in the Department of the Interior (USGS, 2021b). The USGS provides stakeholders, scientists, and the public with timely, accurate data needed for decision making, from critical emergencies to land management planning. The “U.S. Geological Survey 21st-Century Science Strategy 2020–2030” (USGS, 2021b) describes the increasing complexity of scientific challenges and the importance of evolving all aspects of Bureau capacity, including our management of all data assets, to support our mission to provide integrative, predictive, multidisciplinary science. Data assets that are appropriately coupled with each other, managed, and of high quality represent the outputs of a workforce knowledgeable in data and research activities that possesses the skills to deliver value from those data. The USGS prides itself in its scientific integrity and its ability to conduct unbiased science and data collection.

With data as its primary currency, the USGS has long recognized the strategic importance and value of well-managed data assets as an integral component of scientific integrity. The USGS invests in the science lifecycle, including collection of unbiased data assets, interpretation, peer review, interpretive publications, and data release, thereby contributing to the overall advancement and transparency of scientific research used in decision making and for public safety. In 2016, the USGS published a set of four data policies as a part of Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) that provide guidance to review, release, and preserve scientific data. In FSP, the term “data” is defined as “Observations or measurements (unprocessed or processed) represented as text, numbers, or multimedia” (USGS, undated a). Data are considered noninterpretive information (USGS, 2017). Within the USGS Data Strategy, scientific data are recognized in the broadest sense to include the variable(s) collected, standard metadata, transformations and subsequent interpretations of the data, quality assurance and quality control, constructs for the data such as projections and datums, calibration data associated with the collection, and more. This broad understanding pertains to all fields of science and processes for data collection and analysis from sources such as laboratory, field, drone, and satellite.

Scientific data management and release applications, such as trusted digital repositories (USGS, undated b) and tools supporting metadata and identifiers, in addition to best practices and trainings, enable scientists and other USGS personnel to efficiently apply the data lifecycle (fig. 1; Faundeen and others, 2013; USGS, 2021a). As a result, scientists have made thousands of datasets available to the public. Foundational Government directives and laws, such as the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–435, 132 Stat. 5529) as well as Executive Order 13642, “Making Open and Machine Readable the New Default for Government Information” (Obama, 2013), provide a framework for addressing strategic data management. The USGS Data Strategy builds on that framework by outlining high-level goals and objectives that serve as a long-term, decadal guide toward achieving a broad, data-focused vision. Each goal will have its own implementation plans that are carefully aligned and coordinated.

The USGS Data Strategy serves to provide a consistent approach to managing the lifecycle of USGS data such that their maximum value can be realized. These data include both public and internal scientific and nonscientific data (for example, business operations). The strategy maintains a focus specifically on data, while not excluding the critical importance of the analysis and interpretation of those data and resulting products by USGS scientists and personnel that result in high-impact scientific conclusions. With common data goals, the USGS can reach common data successes.

The USGS Data Strategy includes the following:

Implementation of the USGS Data Strategy across the Bureau will benefit the USGS by

The goals and objectives of the USGS Data Strategy will be interwoven into all aspects of USGS science, information systems, and business operations to achieve greater organizational efficiency in fulfilling the USGS mission. For example, the Bureau will work to implement FAIR practices and see an increase in the data-empowered workforce through education and training to expand data consistency and dependability (Lightsom and others, 2022). Leveraging and updating data management tools and procedures for each of the mission areas, regions, and science support functions will improve data collection and data integration activities. Furthermore, USGS datasets and delivery mechanisms that have achieved FAIR success should be identified and showcased as examples for the execution of the strategy. Achievement of these goals will require engagement with senior leadership, coordination across USGS offices, and participation by all employees.

USGS Data Strategy Goals and Objectives

Data Strategy Vision: Broaden the USGS data-centric culture to increase the production of unbiased, accessible, high-quality, and interoperable data, managed as a strategic asset and offered at scales and timeframes relevant to society’s needs.

The USGS Data Strategy focuses on a series of goals and objectives that are intended to be implemented over a decadal period and build on existing efforts wherever possible. Each of the goals and objectives in table 1 are designed to provide building blocks toward continuous improvement in the management and delivery of USGS data to realize their maximum potential.

Conclusion

The U.S. Geological Survey Data Strategy serves as an overarching guide to improve data governance and inspire innovation, awareness, and new understanding of the potential and impact of U.S. Geological Survey data. The strategy focuses on improved data access and the ability to analyze, reuse, and integrate data in new and innovative ways, ultimately expanding the scope and scale of our science. It provides a foundational direction and a framework to promote a data-centric culture and enhance the skillsets of Bureau staff to harness the power of U.S. Geological Survey data more effectively. The goals and objectives in the strategy align with other Bureau strategic plans and guidance and directives from the Department of the Interior and the Federal Government. It relies on the entire Bureau for successful implementation, with key partnerships in the Associate Chief Information Office, Office of Human Capital, and Office of Employee Development. The strategy is a key component to strengthen the Bureau’s data ecosystem to ensure relevant, long-term capacity that supports internal needs and achieves its scientific mission in the most efficient and effective manner.