Abstract

Paper
Exploring Methods and Workflows to Preserve Spatial/GIS Data at NYU
Track: Using GIS in Libraries and Museums
Authors: Himanshu Mistry, Samantha Guss

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been gaining popularity over the last 5 years. With new tools and GIS technologies, geospatial research is being done across the globe in a variety of subject areas. As a result, a plethora of spatial datasets is being created in various formats and sizes, and universities like NYU are in the critical positions to provide GIS education with the latest technologies. Along with the tools, NYU researchers want access to and contribute various spatial datasets. This demand has triggered NYU's Data Service Studio to explore a long-term preservation model for spatial data at NYU. This paper focuses on the challenges faced in developing a spatial data repository to make data available near-term, as well as explores long-term planning for a preservation model for spatial data at NYU. This paper also discusses data collection policy, metadata management, discovery and search environment, workflows and collaborative environments.