About ODC Standards

REFERENCE: overview of Data Specifications & Standards content in the ODC documentation

The ODC has a set of standards designed to ensure data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). These standards apply to both ODC-SCI and ODC-TBI (unless otherwise specified) to make the data more useful for everyone - including your future self!

To understand where and how these standards are implemented, please ensure you are familiar with the components of an ODC Dataset

Metadata Standards

Metadata standards specify what information must be shared about a dataset. The ODC implements a combination of internationally accepted metadata standards and ODC community developed metadata standards to make datasets FAIR and generate digital object identifiers (DOI).

GO TO: Metadata Standards

Format & Structure Specifications

Format and structure specifications outline both the where and how of:

• Sharing information identified by the metadata standards

• Organising the data and files that make up a complete ODC Dataset

GO TO: Format & Structure Specifications

Minimum Upload Specifications

The Minimum Upload Specifications represent the bare minimum requirements that must be met in order to successfully upload a file in the ODC. All Subject Data Files and Data Dictionary Files uploaded in the ODC must meet these requirements as they are automatically validated at the time of file selection and/or upload. The minimum specifications differ slightly for Subject Data Files and Data Dictionary Files.

The ODC strongly recommends that every uploaded Subject Data File is accompanied by a Data Dictionary File and Narrative Metadata to create a complete ODC Dataset.

The minimum specifications ensure that researchers are able to store incomplete, intermediary, and unpublished files in their Personal Space or Lab Space and use those spaces as a data archive

ODC Publishing Standard

The ODC Publishing Standard outlines the requirements that must be met to secure a DOI and publish an ODC Dataset. The ODC Publishing Standard builds on the Minimum Upload Specifications to confirm that all publicly available datasets are human and machine readable, and contain sufficient metadata for reuse (FAIR). The ODC Data Teams and members of the Editorial Boards review every dataset submitted for publication to ODC-SCI or ODC-TBI to confirm that these requirements are met. This is called the Editorial Review process.

In short, an ODC Dataset must meet the Minimum Upload Specifications and:

• Must be relevant to the community of submission (SCI or TBI)

• Must have the Subject Data File in a machine readable format and contain the required variables for the community of submission (SCI or TBI)

• Must be accompanied by a complete Data Dictionary File that contains the accepted common terminology for the community of submission

• Must have complete and sufficient metadata to enable reuse

GO TO: ODC Publishing Standard

If the ODC Publishing Standard is not met, the ODC Data Team will work directly with the data producer(s) to revise the dataset and bring it into alignment with the established standard. ODC-SCI and ODC-TBI both have dedicated teams with domain specific expertise available to help guide researchers through the process!