Data Quality Recommendations for Data Producers and Distributors: Outcomes from the NASA ESDSWG Data Quality Working Group

The quality of Earth science data products is becoming increasingly important for science research. Conveying information about data quality to users in a consistent, easily understandable, and usable manner ensures proper use and prevents misapplication of data. The Data Quality Working Group (DQWG), one of NASA's Earth Science Data System Working Groups, was formed in 2014. The DQWG conducted collaborative activities involving representative NASA Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) and data producers to collect and analyze data quality use cases related to NASA's Earth science data. These activities have resulted in actionable recommendations to address the four phases of managing information on data quality - capturing, describing, facilitating discovery, and enabling use. This past year, the DQWG prepared and submitted four technical documents to the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project's Standards Office (ESO), summarizing recommendations regarding management of information on science quality as well as product quality. This presentation provides a look at the primary recommendations as well as the four technical documents, including the NASA Data Management Plan templates for DAACs and data producers. In addition, we will provide an overview of the working group's approach and highlight key outcomes that led to these recommendations and the technical documents. While these recommendations and data management templates are targeted for NASA Earth science data, other organizations may benefit from the methodology described here and the resulting recommendations for improvement.