The DPDG was created to guide developers of Earth Science data products and is primarily for producers of Earth Science data products derived from remote sensing, in situ sensors, airborne and field campaigns, and model data to be archived at one of the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project’s Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs).
The document draws on a variety of existing resources concerning standards, conventions, and best practices to establish a process for data producers to design and develop Earth Science data products. From requirements and design; to data formats, metadata, and compression; to tools, digital object identifiers (DOIs), and data publication, the document provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and recommendations for data producers working with designated DAACs to generate and deliver data products that will serve end-user communities.
To that end, the DPDG emphasizes ESDIS Standards Coordination Office (ESCO)-endorsed standards and recommended practices, findings from Earth Science Data and Information Systems Working Group (ESDISWG), previously known as Earth Science Data Systems Working Group, and recommendations from DAACs and experienced data producers. It also provides guidance to help producers ensure their data products are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) and adhere to NASA’s open science objectives and information policies.
“Data product developers can access a variety of documents offering guidance on standards, conventions, best practices, formats, and other aspects of designing and implementing products. Further, some DAACs have their own guides for data producers and specific scientific communities,” state the DPDG’s authors. “The DPDG aims to compile the most applicable parts of these guides into a single document to provide developers with an extensive and in-depth guide for how to make data products that best serve end-user communities—the primary beneficiaries of data product development.”
The DPDG Working Group has also produced a cheat sheet for data producers designed to improve its usability by summarizing key actions at each stage of the data product development lifecycle and directing users to the relevant sections of the DPDG, making the document easier to understand and navigate.
Producer Feedback is Encouraged
As the continued release of new DPDG versions suggests, the ESDIS project intends to maintain the guide as a “living document” by periodically updating it based on feedback from data producers, the DAACs, and other stakeholders. Therefore, readers are encouraged to provide feedback on the DPDG via the Earthdata Forum by following these steps:
- Log in using your Earthdata credentials.
- In the pull-down menu under “Services/Usage,” check “Data Product Development Guide.”
- All DPDG-related comments/questions/replies will be displayed.
- To add a new comment or question, select “Post New Question.”
- After entering the new comment or question, at the bottom of the page, find “Services/Usage,” select "Data Product Development Guide” and then “Submit.”
- To reply to an existing item (comment or question), select the item's title and then “Post Reply.”
