Information Management

The goal of the PIE LTER data and information system is to provide a centralized network of information and data related to the PIE. This network provides researchers access to common information and data in addition to protected long-term storage. Data and information are also easily accessible to local, regional, and state partners and the broader scientific community. Researchers associated with PIE are committed to the integrity of the information and databases resulting from the research.

Data Availability

PIE data is available for download from the Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) website and can also be browsed on our website at the PIE data catalog. PIE complies with the LTER Network Data Access Policy. We make every effort to release data in a timely fashion and with attention to accurate and complete metadata. PIE strives to make datasets easily accessible to PIE scientists, local, regional, and state partners, and the broader scientific community. Datasets are available across the broad breadth of PIE research in the watersheds and estuary. We currently have no registration requirements for either observing or downloading data from our web site, which has resulted in seamless access to all PIE data. All PIE data is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Research Project Design

Data management and design of research projects is coordinated through the information management team. The information management team consists of: Anne Giblin (Lead PI), Risa McNellis (IM), Ketil Koop-Jakobsen (PI) and research assistants associated with program areas. Several meetings each year provide each researcher the opportunity to communicate with the PIE information management team regarding the design of the specific research project and subsequent incorporation of data and information into the EDI database. For immediate assistance, please contact the Information Manager.

Data Submission

Individual researchers are responsible for providing data and associated metadata in compliance with the PIE LTER Data and Metadata Best Practices and the the LTER Network Data Access Policy. Researchers using PIE facilities are expected to comply with the LTER policy even if they are not funded by the LTER.

Data files should be submitted with the completed Metadata Template to the PIE LTER Information Manager (IM). The IM reserves the right to edit metadata content for data compatibility with PIE and the LTER Network. Individual researchers are responsible for quality assurance, quality control, data entry, validation, and analysis for their respective projects.

If your dataset is an update to an existing dataset on EDI, please download the data package from EDI, make necessary edits, and send to the IM instead of creating a new data file and metadata file from scratch. Spatial data should be submitted as a zipped directory of raster or vector data and metadata. See here for best practices regarding spatial data. If you are using ArcGIS, we suggest using the built-in ArcCatalog to generate metadata.

See Site and File Names for instructions on how to name data files and research site names.