Motivation

Data publications with digital object identifiers (DOI) are key supporting elements for FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) sharing data. Originally developed with the purpose of providing permanent access to (static) datasets described in scholarly literature, DOI today are more and more assigned to dynamic data. These DOIs are providing a citable and traceable reference of various types of sources (data, software, samples, equipment) and means of rewarding the originators and institutions. As a result of international groups, like the Coalition on Publishing Data in the Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences (COPDESS) and the Enabling FAIR Data project, data with assigned DOIs are fully citable in scholarly literature and many journals require the data underlying a publication to be available – even before accepting an article. Initial metrics for data citation allows data providers to demonstrate the value of the data collected by institutes and individual scientists.

This is particularly relevant for geodesy, as geodesy researchers base their studies on observational data and rely on operational aspects to collect the necessary input data. Consequently, geodetic equipment, observational data, and data results require a structured and well-documented mechanism that allows for the citation, scientific recognition and reward that can be provided by assigning a DOI to data and data products.

To address these challenges and to identify opportunities for improved coordination and advocacy within the geodetic community, GGOS has established a Working Group on “Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for Geodetic Data Sets” in 2019 which was transformed to a GGOS Committee in 2023. This Committee is designated to establish best practices and advocate for the consistent implementation of DOIs across all IAG Services and in the greater geodetic community.