Frequently Asked Questions
Following are some Frequently Asked Questions, we hope to add to this list as we hear from you.
- What is Ocean.data.gov?
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Ocean.data.gov is a product of the National Ocean Council. Ocean.data.gov is a one-stop source of data, information, and tools to support ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes planning efforts. It brings Federal data to the public in an open and transparent manner. Ocean.data.gov is a collaborative effort by agencies with direct responsibilities for the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. In this community on Data.gov, we’ve brought together data from numerous agencies, including NOAA, Navy, the Department of the Interior (USGS, FWS), EPA, Coast Guard, NASA, Army Corps of Engineers, DOE, and NSF. And, we are working to bring you additional data and information from other agencies that have responsibilities that touch the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
- Why is Ocean.data.gov a prototype?
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This is the initial effort to make data and information needed to support ocean and coastal planning easily accessible and publicly available. We have launched this prototype portal to engage coastal and ocean planners, decision-makers, and other users in the development of this portal and ensure we are building it with the most useful information and to meet the needs of the users.
- How can I use this resource?
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Ocean.data.gov is a resource to assist ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes planners find and access data and information provided by the Federal government. You can search the community for data most relevant to coastal and marine spatial planning and download the data for your own purposes. You can also find data from regional portals. Join the community and let us know what else you would like ocean.data.gov to provide.
- What data can I expect to find here?
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The data and information provided through ocean.data.gov is intended to be used for coastal and marine spatial planning, including both spatial data for mapping as well as data that could be used in decision support tools.
- Where do these data come from?
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The data provided in ocean.data.gov are provided by Federal agencies that collect and disseminate data and information about the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. For example, data about water depth are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency that provides the data are responsible for ensuring the data are accessible through the web, that it meets data quality standards, and are up-to-date, where appropriate.
- Can data from State and academic sources be included in this portal?
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Right now, the prototype portal is focused on making Federal data and information available and easily accessible and includes links to regional portals that provide data from non-Federal sources. With the release of ocean.data.gov, we are asking for suggestions on how best to integrate data from State and academic sources.
- Who can suggest data and information to be included in Ocean.data.gov?
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Anyone can identify data or information that could be included in ocean.data.gov. The National Ocean Council has a team that oversees the content and works with the sources to provide the data. If you would like to suggest data or information which may be included, please go to the Forums page and submit your suggestion.
- Who decides what data are included?
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Data provided through ocean.data.gov are reviewed by a team of Federal scientists, information technology specialists, and resource managers. The team verifies that the data meets data quality standards, is accessible through the web, and is valuable and appropriate for coastal and marine spatial planning. The team was selected by and reports to the National Ocean Council. While the team works to accommodate all requests, the requested datasets must meet Federal privacy, national security, and information quality policy requirements.
- How do I get involved?
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The best way to get involved is to participate in the Forum discussions. The success of ocean.data.gov is based on the users working with the Federal government to ensure the data and information needed are available and accessible. We need to hear from you about which data you would like to see and how best to provide the data to you.
- How does this differ from other data efforts such as regional data portals?
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Ocean.data.gov currently provides discovery and access to Federal agencies data and information to support regional planning efforts. The regional efforts can use these data to create regional specific maps, decision support tools, or other products that may be useful for planning. In the future, ocean.data.gov will expand capabilities to include the ability to create your own maps and serve as a place for individuals and groups to share tools and lessons learned.
- Where do I find information about data standards, metadata standards, and formats?
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Ocean.data.gov provides a technical community of practice where you can find recommendations for metadata standards, data sharing standards, and data quality standards. These recommended standards are based on existing standards that are commonly used. For example, Federal geospatial data are required to use the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) standards for their metadata. All data provided through ocean.data.gov meet these standards.
- Can we provide feedback about a particular dataset?
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Yes, each dataset has a metadata page where you can rate the data. This information will be used to improve the data and how we make it available.
- Does Ocean.data.gov contain any data?
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Ocean.data.gov does not hold data, but rather provides a simple and easy way to find and access data. The data remains in the possession of the originating agency or other source where the data are updated and maintained.
- How does Ocean.data.gov differ from other Federal efforts such as Geo.data.gov and Geoplatform.gov?
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Ocean.data.gov was created to provide easy access to data and information to support ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes regional planning efforts. The community provides the ocean and coastal portion of the Federal geospatial data catalogued in geo.data.gov. In addition, spatial planning is a regional effort that relies on State, Tribal, and non-governmental data. These data now have a venue to be discovered and accessed along with Federal data through the Geospatial Platform. Ocean.data.gov will be fully integrated with these efforts over the next year to further expand the ability to discover and access ocean and coastal data. In all cases, the data will reside with the originator as the trusted source.
- What is the relationship between Ocean.data.gov and the Multipurpose Marine Cadastre?
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Ocean.data.gov and the Multipurpose Marine Cadastre are complementary efforts. The main difference between these two efforts is in size and scope. There is a hierarchical distinction in that ocean.data.gov will encompass spatial and other data, decision support tools, and related information to support all ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes planning activities. The Multipurpose Marine Cadastre’s (MMC) primary focus is on renewable energy planning and siting as specified in Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The suite of spatial data and tools in the MMC were developed within the context of renewable energy planning, siting, and permit review. Most of the data sets and tools found within the MMC have broader applicability and will be made available to ocean.data.gov to extend their discovery and use.
