Open Geoscience: Producing Robust Research with Mosaic Data Use
Abstract
Open science initiatives connected to government- and university-driven research are a topic of emerging prominence within the geosciences. Sharing research and data enables parties to take advantage of mosaic data—the combination of heterogeneous data sets collected for different purposes to expose patterns and derive findings. Natural hazard experts use mosaic data to more quickly inform decisions that impact human populations. Open and accessible agriculture, forestry, and water research data can be combined to expose important patterns that aid in global water conservation. Geoengineering, as an emerging field of interest, can benefit from overlapping data between the physical and social sciences to understand potential socio-economic ramifications of human alteration of Earth-system processes.
Building on targeted case studies of the use and impact of mosaic data in the geosciences, we present a framework for how Earth science researchers can leverage the combination of heterogeneous data from multiple sources and disciplines. Case studies were selected by analysis of peer-reviewed publications that cite and emphasize the use of mosaic data. To develop the framework we draw on case study information on research goals; methods for identifying candidate datasets for combination; data assimilation, combination, and management practices; data citation and metadata management; and how the use mosaic data impacted results. The framework assembles this information to suggest starting points and best practices, favorable collaboration goals, and risk recommendations to guide future mosaic projects. The overarching goal of this study is to stimulate further consideration and use of mosaic data methods in geoscience research.- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMPA51D0912K
- Keywords:
-
- 0799 General or miscellaneous;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 9820 Techniques applicable in three or more fields;
- GENERAL OR MISCELLANEOUS;
- 6344 System operation and management;
- POLICY SCIENCES;
- 6610 Funding;
- PUBLIC ISSUES