DGS Data Preservation

Overview-

The Delaware Geological Survey (DGS) is a science-based, public-service-driven Delaware state agency at the University of Delaware (UD) that conducts geologic and hydrologic research, service, and exploration for the benefit of the citizens of the First State. The mission of the DGS is to provide objective earth science information, advice, and service to its stakeholders–the citizens, policy makers, industries, and educational institutions of Delaware. Geology is a physical science that is built upon the description and analysis of earth materials including rocks, sediment, and water. Data generated by the description and analysis of these earth materials is the basis of the geologic and hydrologic research of the DGS. In order to ensure that the research is objective, the data must be preserved and retrievable for both DGS researchers and for stakeholders that wish to review or use the data. The data consist of physical samples (rock and sediment and their processed subsamples) and analog (non-digital) data (well and drill-hole data (location, owner, depth, etc.), water levels and other physical observations, maps, and rock and sample descriptions, and other data and interpretations) that document the physical samples or are the results of research. The analog data may be duplicated in a digital format either in a database (DGS Watsys) or as digital scans of the analog data or may be derivative data and interpretations that are only in a digital format.

DGS Data Repositories

Physical Sample Repository-

Since the inception of the DGS in the 1950’s, physical samples have been collected and retained as a part of the DGS core and sample repository. Physical samples include:

 Well cuttings

 Sediment and rock cores

 Fossils

 Sediment and rock samples from outcrops

 Processed samples from the above including pollen and microfossil slides and rock thin sections

Analog Repository-

The DGS analog repository consists of the following:  Well and outcrop records- Paper records stored in notebooks that contains geographic, well construction, and geologic data related to wells and geographic and geologic data related to outcrops.

 Geophysical logs

 Supplemental files- Paper records stored in file cabinets, map cabinets, and storage boxes of unpublished notes, maps, files, correspondence, DGS contract reports, and consulting reports related to the geology of Delaware.

 Maps- Paper maps stored in flat file map cabinets.

 Photographic images- Sets of aerial photographs, photographs of DGS activities, outcrop photographs, and 35 mm slides stored in file cabinets and

 Administrative files- Correspondence and notes related to DGS activities.

In-House Research Databases-

The DGS in-house research databases consists of the following:

 Petrographic Thin Section Database

 Radiocarbon Database

 Delaware Earthquakes Database

 Microfossil Database

 Palynology (Fossil Pollen) Database

 Stratigraphic Pick Database

 Geochronologic Age Database (ages from detrital zircons)

DGS Data Preservation Plan

Physical Samples-

Physical samples are the primary data upon which DGS geologic research is conducted. It is a vital part of the DGS mission that these samples be retained in a repository in perpetuity for the following reasons:

 Sites from which the samples were obtained are now inaccessible due to post-sampling construction or other reasons.  Re-sampling of a site is cost-prohibitive. For samples from deeper wells, re-drilling would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. For samples in the OCS sample repository, re-drilling would cost millions of dollars.

 Analytical techniques are constantly improving or changing and new analyses are being developed. Having a collection of samples is vital for taking advantage of these techniques.

 Samples collected in the course of one project, may be useful for a later project.

Over the past 10 years, the DGS has made an effort to enhance the preservation of the samples in the physical sample repository. This effort has included transferring samples in deteriorating cloth sample bags and samples in glass jars to mylar sample bags stored in stackable storage boxes, acquisition of shelving units for storage of the samples, and transferring rock cores from oversize wooden crates to stackable cardboard storage boxes. As a result of this effort, the need for a large-scale data preservation plan for the physical samples is not necessary. The following tasks have been identified for future work but are of low priority.

1. Cull through the outcrop sample collection and discard samples that do not have associated geographic coordinates or other subsidiary data. This task will have priority as space is needed for other samples.

2. Inventory and organize the fossil collection.

3. Inventory and organize the microfossil slide collection.

4. Reorganize the offshore vibracore samples.

5. Conduct a detailed inventory of the Atlantic OCS repository.

Analog data-

Analog data contain the basic geographic and geologic data upon which DGS research is built. These data represent unique data that if damaged or destroyed cannot be replicated or can be replicated with a great deal of effort. Much of the geographic data associated with wells and outcrops are replicated in a digital format in an Oracle database (DGS Watsys) that is backed up. Some of the geologic data, especially those generated in the last ten years are also replicated in a digital format that is backed up. Most of the geologic data, however, are only on paper format. These data are considered to be the most at risk and are a high priority for a preservation effort. A majority of the photographic images have been converted to digital formats in a project funded by a USGS Data Preservation grant and for GIS dissemination (DataMIL aerial photographs). These are not a priority for any further preservation effort. All the geophysical logs have been scanned, digitized, and converted to a LAS format. No further preservation is needed for these data.

The following in order of priority are the analog data that need to be preserved in a digital format.

1. Outcrop data- Descriptions of outcrop and hand auger borings. These data other than the geographic data contained in the files are not duplicated anywhere else.

2. Well and test boring data- Geographic data, well construction data, permit data, and drillers and geologists logs. Geographic data are contained in a digital database (DGS Watsys). Data related to well permits (applications, completion reports, drillers logs) are have the primary records housed at DNREC in Dover. Any wells and borings not associated with permits, geologists logs, sample descriptions, notes, hand drawn location maps, and other data are not duplicated anywhere else.

3. Supplemental files- Paper records stored in file cabinets, map cabinets, and storage boxes of unpublished notes, maps, files, correspondence, DGS contract reports, and consulting reports related to the geology of Delaware. These data are mostly unique and are not likely replicated anywhere else or could only be obtained again with great effort.

4. Maps- These data include topographic field maps, historical maps, and other miscellaneous formats. All USGS topographic maps are already preserved in a digital format. The other maps need to be inventoried and prioritized in terms of preservation.

5. Administrative files- For the most part these files are maintained in accordance with UD policies and are not in need of preservation. Some files have been transferred to State of Delaware Archives (Delaware State Boundary records).

In-House Research Databases-

Some in-house databases will never be made available to the public or stakeholders as they are tools to help with interpreting geologic data gathered in the field and gathered from processing of DGS physical samples; However, some contain important value added information from processed samples that are relevant to other researchers interested in Delaware geology as a part of the larger geologic picture and geologic history of the North American continent. Some of the in-house have been made available in spreadsheet forms over the years for general distribution or for research interests. Others than have more data and images attached to them have not been able to be made available and reside in MS Access databases located within the DGS computing framework. Of the ones listed in the section above, the Petrographic Thin Section and Radiocarbon databases are mature enough to be considered for release to the public via searchable web pages on the DGS web site. Additional programming work would be needed to accomplish this release. Others may be considered as time allows. The priority for conversion of these in-house databases to web accessible databases is as follows:

 Petrographic Thin Section Database

 Radiocarbon Database

 Delaware Earthquakes Database

 Palynology Database

 Geochronologic Age Database

 Microfossil Database

 Stratigraphic Pick Database

Future Goals-

The major future goal of preserving all our differing types of data is to make all possible data available to our customers and stakeholders over the internet. By doing this, we open up the DGS resources, which are public domain, to the largest possible community of users both locally and globally. With current and future demands for data being explored first over the Internet, Data needs to be findable if we want researchers to know it exists.