Dataset acquisition to support geoscience

Environmental scientists are both producers and consumers of data. Numerous studies have shown that significant amounts of scientists’ time can be consumed in acquiring, managing and transforming data prior to their use. To facilitate the work of its scientists, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has identified a series of national datasets that are required by scientists across the organization. The BGS then seeks to acquire and manage these centrally, and to supply them to the scientists in formats that they normally use. Making these datasets readily available helps to: •enhance the quality of the science; •promote interdisciplinary working; •reduce costs.