SAFER-Data Help Pages
SAFER-Data is a fully web-based interface to the EPA's Environmental Research Center's Environmental Research Data Archive. Information is presented on SAFER-Data as a "resource" and any related datasets that are available for download.
This page describes a list of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about SAFER-Data. More FAQ will be added shortly.
- What does a Resource mean on SAFER-Data?
- What types of datasets does SAFER-Data accept?
- What datasets must be supplied to SAFER-Data? by researchers?
- How does a project supply GIS layers to SAFER-Data?
- How safe is my data on SAFER-Data?
- How do I link to a resource on SAFER-Data?
- How do I cite or credit a resource on SAFER-Data?
- What metadata standard does SAFER-Data use?
- Why must I submit my (our) project data to SAFER-Data?
- Who can see, access, or download my data from SAFER-Data?
What does a Resource mean on SAFER-Data?
A resource is our definition for the combination of two distinct information objects. The metadata information about a project and then the datasets generated by that project. Before any dataset files can be uploaded from a project metadata information must be provided. A more detailed description of the concept of a resource is given on the what are resources? page. ( Back to Top of Page )
What types of datasets does SAFER-Data accept?
The projects funded by the EPA cover a diverse range of scientific disciplines and environmental themes and areas. Each project is unique in the types of datasets and information it generates. The following is a list of some of the most common types. This list is not exhaustive and you should contact us if you have a special type of dataset that is not included below.- Spreadsheets containing survey data, time-series data collection, etc
- Databases containing survey data, time-series data collection, etc
- Imagery and photographic material: this could include photographs of instrumentation, geographical features of a study area, samples collected, flora and fauna, etc.
- Plain ASCII text files containing structured or unstructured information
- Geographic Information Systems: Geographic Layers, ortho-imagery, cartographic maps, cartographic visualisations, point-based datasets, polygon-based datasets, geodatabases
What datasets must be supplied to SAFER-Data? by researchers?
All new and significant datasets generated soley within the project must be uploaded to SAFER-Data.This includes datasets generated by the project in order to perform statistical calculations for final analysis in the project.
The data (directly from the project) used to generate tables, charts, and images in the final published report should be provided. ( Back to Top of Page )
How does a project supply GIS layers to SAFER-Data?
It is important that projects which collect, gather, generate, re-generate, update, analyse, or supply data and information in formats suitable for use within a GIS take time to recognise which data they can supply to SAFER-Data. Projects must only supply the geographic layers (point, polygon, mixed) that they generated within the project.Under no circumstances should Ordance Survey Ireland mapping (or any other 3rd party licensed mapping data) be uploaded to SAFER-Data. This includes the upload of third party ortho-imagery and digitised cartographic or topographic maps.
Researchers should keep in mind that the idea behind supplying project generated GIS to SAFER-Data is that if the GIS data is downloaded by a 3rd party that this 3rd party will be able to visualise or manipulate your data within a GIS or similiar system if and only if they themselves have the correct base-layers and other mapping products available on their systems.
Researchers should contact us in advance of uploading GIS datasets to SAFER-Data.
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How safe is my data on SAFER-Data?
The EPA and SAFER-Data are committed to ensuring that datasets and information provided by projects and uploaded for distribution and archiving on SAFER-Data are stored in a secure manner and distributed in a responsible and ethical manner.The Environmental Research Center (http://erc.epa.ie/) ensure that datasets and information uploaded to SAFER-Data is subject to frequent data backup procedures and security audits.
The use of automated tools for the bulk downloading of datasets is prohibited on SAFER-Data. A simple type of challenge-response test (CATCHPA) is used to determine whether the user attempting to download a datasetis human. Before a user can download a dataset file from SAFER-Data the user must type the letters of a distorted image that appears on the screen. Computers can not respond successfully to this test. This helps to ensure that only genuine users can download the datasets. More information on CATCHPAs is available at the corresponding Wikipedia entry.
SAFER-Data also carefully logs all visits to every page on SAFER-Data. This allows the SAFER-Data to perform sophisticated analysis of who is visiting pages and what types of actions they are performing during the visit to SAFER-Data.
Researchers should contact us if you need more details about the security aspects of SAFER-Data.
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How do I link to a resource on SAFER-Data?
It is good practice to link or reference resources on SAFER-Data if you have used them in
your research or shall be attempting to publish or advertise work carried ou using resources
accessed on SAFER-Data. The credit that SAFER-Data takes is soley based on providing the physical
means whereby researchers can search, explore, and access datasets generated by other researchers who
worked on research projects funded by the EPA. ( Back to Top of Page )
To link directly to a resource on SAFER-Data you should use the permalink generated by SAFER-Data for every unique resource. This link will never change. To obtain the URL of this permalink go to the Full Metadata View of the resource you wish to link to. Scroll down to the bottom of the page display. You will see a section on Bookmarking this resource on Social Networking Websites. The permalink is situated in the paragraph below.
How do I cite or credit a resource on SAFER-Data?
It is good practice to cite and credit resources on SAFER-Data if you have used them in your research or shall be attempting to publish or advertise work carried ou using resources accessed on SAFER-Data. The credit that SAFER-Data takes is soley based on providing the physical means whereby researchers can search, explore, and access datasets generated by other researchers who worked on research projects funded by the EPA.
SAFER-Data automatically generates a citation for every unique resource in the archive. To obtain the citation details go to the Full Metadata View and navigate to the section "How to correctly cite this resource". This section has details on the information fields to use when citing the resource in published material. ( Back to Top of Page )
What metadata standard does SAFER-Data use?
SAFER-Data uses the ISO 19115 Metadata standard for geographical data and information. This standard was chosen as it best
fits the broad range of projects funded by the EPA research programmes. The ISO 19115 metadata standard is also used by the European INSPIRE Directive. INSPIRE seeks to build a spatial data infrastructure for Europe. It is crucial to the success of INSPIRE that a robust metadata standard is used by all participating bodies. ( Back to Top of Page )
Why must I submit my (our) project data to SAFER-Data?
The STRIVE programme funds not-for-profit research intended to generate knowledge for public good purposes and as such EPA expects that outputs / findings should be widely disseminated and made publicly available. The EPA's SAFER-data archive (http://erc.epa.ie/safer) should be used for this purpose. As such all significant datasets produced during the research project must be submitted to the EPA at the end of the project for archiving using SAFER-Data. It will be the responsibility of the Grantee to ensure that all project participants provide their respective datasets as detailed in the Guidelines for Submission of Datasets. The conditions for submission of datasets from EPA funded projects are outlined in the following documents:
- STRIVE Guide for Applicants
- STRIVE Guide for Submission of Datasets
- STRIVE Guide for Grantees
Who can see, access, or download my data from SAFER-Data?
The STRIVE programme funds not-for-profit research intended to generate knowledge for
public good purposes and as such EPA expects that outputs / findings should be widely
disseminated and made publicly available. The concept behind SAFER-Data is two-fold. Firstly it provides
data providers and data owners with a secure means of submitting their data to EPA and allowing the careful management of these data from this point onwards. Secondly it allows this data be downloaded by interested third parties in a controlled fashion - that is these users can read the metadata description first to see if the data is suitable for their specific purpose and then they can proceed to download the data if it is fit for purpose. All dataset downloads are carefully logged in the SAFER-Data logging database. The STRIVE Guide for Submission of Datasets clearly outlines that data owners are allowed to keep all datasets private on SAFER-Data for a period of 12 months after the submission of these datsets. This is explained in greater detail on the what is a resource page.