Send Data to QSSC for Permanent Archiving

Overview

Data from NARSTO projects are formatted in the NARSTO Data Exchange Standard (a spreadsheet-compatible layout, which uses a standardized terminology) and are sent to the NARSTO Quality Systems Science Center (QSSC). The QSSC does some format checking, interacts with the data providers as needed, develops additional documentation, and sends the data to the NARSTO Permanent Data Archive.

The information below is a general guide to the resources that are needed to carry out this process. Some projects have onsite Data Managers who work with both the Principal Investigators and the NARSTO QSSC. Other projects do not have Data Managers, and the PIs interact directly with the QSSC. While projects may have varying assigned roles and responsibilities for data management, the QSSC is the source for information and assistance with data, metadata, and archiving activities.

Data Providers (PIs and Data Managers)

• Data Collection Planning
   
• Designate Sampling Site Standard Names. There is a standard site naming protocol. Obtain the list of existing standard site names, or request new names, from your Data Manager or from the QSSC.
   
• Learn about the Data Exchange Standard (DES) Format and Metadata. The metadata include a convention for naming variables and identifying chemicals, with reference tables for chemicals with CAS numbers, chemicals without CAS numbers, and non-chemical variable names. There is also a standard for data quality flags.
   
• Consider Data Reporting Factors
  
  • Units
  • Quality flags
  • Detection limits
  • Uncertainty
  • Standard conditions
  • Anticipate new variable names — If you will be collecting variables not already in the QSSC's lists of variables, please give your Data Manager or the QSSC information about these variables, so names can be assigned.
     
• Collect Data

Data Reporting

• Format data and enter metadata in DES
• Assign data file names
• Consult with QSSC regarding data reporting and metadata issues
• Group data files into data sets and assign names

Data Archiving

• Enter data set metadata into NARSTO Data and Information Sharing Tool (DIST)
• Transfer preliminary data files to QSSC FTP site
• Interact with QSSC to work out data reporting issues identified by automated QC checks
• Finalize metadata and data (as needed) and transfer to QSSC FTP site

QSSC Data Archiving

• Perform automated QC checks of DES data files
• Resolve data reporting issues with data providers
• Prepare Permanent Data Archive (PDA) documentation
• Send Data Sets and Documentation to PDA