Implementation of a workflow for publishing citeable environmental data: successes, challenges and opportunities from a data centre perspective

In recent years, the development and implementation of a robust way to cite data have encouraged many previously sceptical environmental researchers to publish the data they create, thus ensuring that more data than ever are now open and available for re-use within and between research communities. Here, we describe a workflow for publishing citeable data in the context of the environmental sciences—an area spanning many domains and generating a vast array of heterogeneous data products. The processes and tools we have developed have enabled rapid publication of quality data products including datasets, models and model outputs which can be accessed, re-used and subsequently cited. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed before researchers in the environmental sciences fully accept the notion that datasets are valued outputs and time should be spent in properly describing, storing and citing them. Here, we identify current challenges such as citation of dynamic datasets and issues of recording and presenting citation metrics. In conclusion, whilst data centres may have the infrastructure, tools, resources and processes available to publish citeable datasets, further work is required before large-scale uptake of the services offered is achieved. We believe that once current challenges are met, data resources will be viewed similarly to journal publications as valued outputs in a researcher’s portfolio, and therefore both the quality and quantity of data published will increase.