This Appendix is intended to provide a starting point for task 2.3.
Designation of Data Centres
In designating a GTOS Data Centre (DC) consideration should be given to defining both its data domain and its processing domain.
The data domain identifies the range of data categories with which the Centre deals whether it be for primary data collection and assembly including quality assurance, and/or the use of secondary data, integration and product production. This domain may also be circumscribed geographically - e.g. "wildlife data in protected areas of South East Asia".
The processing domain defines the principal data management functions and capacity of the Centre, highlighting those in which the Centre has particular expertise. These processing functions or operations might include:
Assembly - building up and organising a dataset from primary observations for a single data type
Integration - bringing together data from multiple data sources into a compatible database
Analysis - selection, processing, computation and other manipulation of the data - usually to produce an information product. Analysis functions include:
error detection and correction
summarisation and generalisation
statistical analysis
time series and trend analysis
spatial analysis (and GIS)
image analysis (e.g. for remote sensing)
mathematical modelling
visualisation
Product generation - integration and analysis to produce a new data set, or other product
Data and product distribution - including electronic access as well as digital media distribution
Archiving - preserving, and providing access to, valuable datasets and products.
Checklist of Criteria for Agreements/Designation of Data Centres
Manages designated GTOS datasets and products
Conforms to GTOS data access/release policies
Follows GTOS data management polices (e.g. with respect to quality assurance and archiving)
Archives GTOS data sets (or provides facilities to archive)
Has analysis/processing capacity appropriate to the needs of GTOS (which can be accessed or utilised by GTOS partners under reasonable conditions)
Possible Data Centre Categories
(The category designation should be based on the primary or major functions of the Centre)
Primary Centre: provides all aspects of end-to-end data management for a major data domain of value to GTOS.
Specialised Centre: engages in management of a select, but key, GTOS dataset
Archival Centre: specialises in providing archive facilities and access to archival datasets.
Analysis Centre: provides functions or facilities for data integration and analysis, e.g. global modelling, trend analysis.
Affiliated Centre: co-operates with GTOS in useful ways, but does not (for technical or administrative reasons) meet all of the DIM policies
Contents of a GTOS Data Centre Directory
Each GTOS Data Centre should be fully described in a Centres Directory (or institutional meta-database). Minimum contents of such a Directory are as follows:
Name of Centre: (full name, as well as short name or abbreviation/acronym)
Responsible Authority: (organisation responsible for the Centre - e.g. Ministry, University, etc.)
Responsible Contacts: (including full address, email etc.)
Mandate: (description of objectives, purpose of the organisation)
Data Domain: (GTOS datasets maintained, geographic limits, etc. - linked to GTOS directory level metadatabase)
Data Access: (policies and conditions of access, directory level metadatabase used)
Functional Domain: (available processing functions, analysis capacity, conditions of access)
Expertise: (description of specialised expertise (human resources) available for consultation)
