ScienceBase Global context providing access to all items
ScienceBase provides a data cataloging and collaborative data management platform for USGS scientists and partners. ScienceBase provides a central search and discovery application along with Web services that facilitate other applications. Research communities can set up their own virtual spaces that contain items of particular import to their work.
Items are added to the ScienceBase Catalog through one of several methods:
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Harvesting engines access other catalogs or more simple listings of data resources and integrate them into ScienceBase by analyzing core elements needed for query and contextualization.
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Authorized users enter new items by uploading single or collected metadata records in several standard formats (e.g., ISO19139 XML metadata).
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Authorized users enter new items through online forms that ease the data entry process through a robust information lookup capability.
Geospatial information for ScienceBase items may be added using a footprinting utility, which allows the uploading of geospatial shapefiles, drawing polygons on a map designating an item's footprint, or specifying an item's location by mapping a point. The footprinting utility allows users to specify geospatial footprints by using pre-loaded shapefiles outlining counties, states, quadrangles, and hydrologic units. Additional geospatial data are being added.
ScienceBase is continually evolving and feedback from users is imperative for improving the utility. Partnerships with data providers and participation by scientific endeavors is highly sought by ScienceBase. Please contribute your suggestions or express your interest in contributing to ScienceBase by clicking the feedback link at the bottom of the page.
For additional technical information about ScienceBase including background, architecture, and documentation such as videos, help, and release notes, please refer to: https://my.usgs.gov/confluence/display/sciencebase/ScienceBase
