Alaska Regional Data Repository
aka RDR
Last updated
aka RDR
Last updated
The Alaska Regional Data Repository is a centralized server dedicated to the storage of regional projects, data assets, and products and metadata. The RDR is intended to be the regionally accessible, secure, authoritative storage location for project documents, records, data and metadata and as a single source for serving data and metadata to publicly accessible catalogs and other repositories.
The regional repository is for the storage of completed resources (this does not mean they can never be replaced or updated); it is not intended for active working files. The process of depositing files in the RDR was designed to implement a data management quality control process where: 1) a digital resource passes from the "data producer" to 2) the "data steward" (who reviews metadata quality) then on to 3) the "data custodian" (who moves the resource to an appropriate storage location). The program repositories are managed by the respective program data managers (i.e. Custodians). This process helps to ensure that all assets in the repository have metadata that meet a minimum regional metadata standard and the project directory does not become a disorganized collection files that is often present in shared file systems.
You can reach the Repository by typing \\ifw7ro-file.fws.doi.net\datamgt into the address bar in File Explorer on any computer that is on, or has access to, the internal network. Telework computers will need to use a VPN service like Pulse Secure to access the location.
To insure that files placed in the Repository are protected from loss or corruption, access to files within the Repository are controlled through permissions. You, and everyone on the network, may read and copy anything in the Repository, but write and modify permissions are limited.
To obtain an archive folder for your project, complete a Data Management Plan (DMP) and submit it to your data manager. The DMP is a working communication document between the project team and your data manager.
After submission of a DMP, you will be provided with the address to your project archive folder in the RDR. It will look something like this:
The Regional Data Repository contains a folder for each program using the RDR (Fisheries and Ecological Services = FES, Migratory Bird Management = MBM, National Wildlife Refuge System = NWRS, Office of Subsistence Management = OSM, and Science Applications = SA. Within each program folder is a folder for each project that will serve as an archive.
The project archive folder name takes the format: ProgramAcronym_SequentialNumber_ShortTitle, i.e. MBMwa_011_YKDeltaNestPlot would stand for the Migratory Bird Management Waterfowl Program, YK Delta Nest Plot Survey, and it was the 11th archive record created for that program.
Listed and described below is the basic folder structure of the RDR. Top level folders (BOLD) are generally maintained for every project. Projects vary and the use of sub-folders, naming, and organization are at the discretion of the project staff and your data manager.
changelog.txt ReadMe text file to record additions, subtractions and alterations to contents of the archive record.
admin material related to general project administration; could be replicated each year for multiyear projects, i.e., admin2019, admin2020. Contents of the admin folder are often important record related to the project implementation and may include:
contracts final executed agreements
correspondence important information relating to the execution of the project including permits obtained for the project
purchasing significant or unique purchasing information that is deemed important to archive
training training materials developed for the project
travel significant or unique travel information that is deemed important to archive
code computer processing code i.e. R or Python scripts
data generated from the project, and can be sorted in sub-folders, if needed. Otherwise, naming conventions noted below, should be used to identify the data type.
raw data is unprocessed data as initially recorded. File structure may vary by project and it is recommended to organize data by data type. File names of raw data may reflect the format raw_type_of_data_x and repeated as needed. Raw data may consist of spreadsheets, databases, images, text notes, sounds, geo points or lines, etc.
final data is data that has passed all quality control checks and are typically the data products destined for public release and used for analysis and reporting. The structure and file names should mirror that of the raw data suck as final_type_of_data_x and repeated as needed.
analysis output are result files of computer code or model, or other processing step or other derived tables needed from analysis. i.e. an observer matrix table, model output file, etc. These should follow similar file naming format such as output_type_x and repeated as needed.
documents include materials generated by the project; these products may also be described in metadata. Some documents are internal work products and may not be intended for public consumption. The contents of the documents folder may include:
data management plan for the project
proposal documents prepared to solicit both internal or external funding
public relations materials such as project photographs, maps, graphics, drawings, etc.
publications peer-reviewed, final manuscripts
reports white papers that are not peer-reviewed, but provide results or information from the project
talks recordings or presentation slides related to the project
posters stand-alone posters related to the project
protocols may be a sub-folder and may include investigation plans, methods and protocol documents that guide project procedures
form_template may include data sheets, or templates for data entry, etc. that are important for understanding the project
incoming serves as a holding location for materials that should be filed under one of the other subfolder locations after review
metadata contains the mdEditor JSON file for the project, associated products, project contacts, and data dictionaries. All files in the RDR should be accompanied by metadata.
source_data may or may not be part of the project. It is designated to house data that is NOT generated by the project, but used during the course of the project. It is generally existing pubished or freely available data. These items may be placed in a separate folder or within the data folder if appropriately named. File naming may follow a designated format such as source_type_of_data_x.
Updated August 2022
