Developing Data and Database Standards in Science: Some Challenges and How CODATA Can Help Meet Them

Published

July 1, 1999

Author(s)

J R. Rumble

Abstract

The triple revolutions caused by advanced computers, advanced informatics and the Internet have changed forever the way scientific and technical data are stored, located and disseminated. There is no turning back. Today almost every scientist uses the Internet to share data, sometimes just with close colleagues, other times through large-scale databases. Standards are clearly going to be required to allow data exchange and data sharing to proceed smoothly and coherently. Some areas of science already have such standards, specifically crystallography, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, materials testing (in part) and neutron interactions. In addition, virtually every International Scientific Union has established standard nomenclature for its discipline, though almost never from the perspective of computer database building and dissemination. In this brief paper, I identify the common elements of all scientific data exchange standards, including those related to substance/object description, test and property data, test conditions, and data and database quality. I mention how data formats should and can be integrated thereby linking different distance scales - atomic to bulk or molecular biology to ecological. Finally I identify opportunities for CODATA to develop specific guidelines for scientific data exchange standards and to provide support for standards development in a few key areas

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the International Joint Workshop for Studies on Biodiversity, Center for Global Environmental Research

Conference Dates

July 14-16, 1999

Conference Location

Tsukuba, JA

Conference Title

International Workshop for Studies on Biodiversity

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

database, database standards, informatics, interoperability, scientific data, standards, technical data

Citation

Rumble, J. (1999), Developing Data and Database Standards in Science: Some Challenges and How CODATA Can Help Meet Them, Proceedings of the International Joint Workshop for Studies on Biodiversity, Center for Global Environmental Research, Tsukuba, JA (Accessed April 24, 2024)