Best practices for persistent identifiers in earth observation archives

Abstract

Sharing and citing scientific data sources is becoming the global standard. Persistent identifiers (PIDs) allow data providers to permanently and uniquely identify a resource, track its use by the scientific community, and increase its visibility. To encourage and coordinate the implementation of PIDs in Earth Observation, the CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services (WGISS) recently developed a best practices document. The Best Practices include advice on choosing a PID system, assigning the IDs themselves, ensuring permanence, resolving the ID to the data resource, choosing an appropriate granularity, and documenting the PIDs properly. The recommendations are being applied in pilot implementations in DLR, ESA ESRIN, and NASA. Establishing common protocols and practices will help ensure interoperability among the global community of Earth Observation data providers. This paper will present the best practices, a few use cases, and the results of the pilot studies.