What is FAIR data?

FAIR data refers to data that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. These principles aim to enhance the usability and value of research data by promoting openness, transparency, and effective data management practices. (R12)

 

Findable

• Enabling researchers and other stakeholders to locate and access relevant datasets with ease. It involves assigning persistent identifiers, using comprehensive metadata, and ensuring clear data descriptions. (R12)

 

Accessibility

• Allowing researchers to retrieve and obtain the data in a usable format. It involves providing open access or restricted access when necessary, along with clear data usage agreements and licenses. (R12)

 

Interoperability 

• Aiming to enable seamless integration and exchange of data between different systems and platforms. By adopting common standards and formats, data can be effectively shared, combined, and used for various research purposes. (R12)

 

Reusability

• Encouraging researchers to share data that can be easily understood and utilized by others. This includes providing detailed documentation, using standardized and non-proprietary formats, and adhering to ethical and legal considerations. (R12)

 

Torsten Linders from the Ocean data factory emphasized the importance of FAIR data in his lecture. He explained that there is an immense amount of data in the ocean, but the data gaps can be enormous. It is important to fill this data gap but the data collected must also be FAIR, otherwise, he describes it as “collecting data and doing nothing with it”. (R13)

 

The European Commission also writes in the article “a green and digital future: 7 Insights from strategic foresight” about the importance of collecting among others, findable and accessible data. The article emphasizes that data is essential for a sustainable society and that everyone should be empowered to benefit from their data. In order to achieve this Standards could help to ensure that the collected data is interoperable and of high quality. Privacy rules need to protect end users. Finally, cybersecurity as a crosscutting technology priority could guarantee the security of shared data. (R14)

 

FAIR data from pHil

The data collected from pHil can be considered "fair" because it is collected, processed, and used in a manner that adheres to the four key principles of FAIR data: findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability.

 

First, the data is findable because the sensor is designed to provide precise and accurate measurements of pH levels in the ocean. The sensor is programmed to collect data at regular intervals, and the data is stored in a digital format that can be easily located and accessed.

 

Second, the data is accessible because it is stored in a secure database that is accessible to authorized users.

 

Third, the data is interoperable because it is collected using standard methods and protocols. The sensor is calibrated to measure pH levels in accordance with established guidelines.

 

Finally, the data is reusable because it is stored in a manner that allows other researchers to access and use it for their own research purposes.

 

License

All the data that is published on our website will be anonymous and follow regulations by the Creative Common Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This means that one has the right to share, copy and distribute the data for any use, even commercial. However one must always give credit to pHil as their resource, as well as indicate if any changes have been made. 

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