Data Management Plans (ENG)

Once data are ready to be archived and shared they will most likely need to be transferred to a repository or data center with a commitment to long-term curation. Consider both backup and archival strategies as part of your data management planning process.

Your first choice for long-term data preservation should be a disciplinary repository serving a relevant area of research. If no such repository exists, consider our institutional repository, Deep Blue Data. Perpetual archiving in a curated disciplinary or institutional repository is the preferred solution for long-term data preservation. If there are no applicable repositories, describe how you will keep the data accessible for its expected useful lifespan.

Two ways to approach finding a repository (please note that services mentioned are options for you to investigate further, not endorsements):

• Which of the data you plan to generate will have long-term value to others? 
• What is your long-term strategy for maintaining, curating, and archiving your data? How will you ensure access beyond the life of the project?
• Which archive, repository, or database have you identified as the best place to deposit your data? If there are no appropriate disciplinary repositories, what tools will you use to preserve and disseminate your data and what resources will you need to make use of those tools?
• What procedures does the repository have in place for preservation and backup? Are there any security measures that need to be taken when storing and distributing the data (e.g. permissions management, restrictions on use)? Who will manage these security procedures and how?
• What procedures does the repository have in place for forward migration of storage technologies, to avoid obsolescence?
• What data preparation, description, or cleaning procedures will be necessary to prepare data for archiving and sharing (e.g. quality or consistency checks, de-identification, insuring compliance with IRB requirements, obtaining consent from project members or other stakeholders)?
• What metadata and other documentation will be submitted alongside the data (or created after deposit) to ensure the data can be found and used by others?
• Will any other related information be deposited (e.g. publications, software, reports)?
• How much will it cost to preserve and disseminate the data and how will these costs be covered?