Making it FAIR
Last updated on 2024-12-17 | Edit this page
Estimated time: 12 minutes
Making it FAIR
Emphasis should be placed in following the FAIR principles when creating multidimensional data or bringing together existing data within a project/initiatives.
FAIR refers to the following actions which should be promoted.
Findability
“The first step in (re)using data is to find them. Metadata and data should be easy to find for both humans and computers. Machine-readable metadata are essential for automatic discovery of datasets and services…” https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/
Data should be linked to rich and structured metadata.
Where possible this should be made accessible through a searchable resource such as an aggregation platform.
Data should be accessible through a persistent identifiers (which do not change over time). For example, DOIs can be assigned to data through platforms such as Zenodo or Github.
Accessibility
The user “need to know how they can be accessed, possibly including authentication and authorisation”. https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/
Metadata should be accessible via using a protocol for web, such as HTTP/HTTPS which allows to access a webpage over the browser or query a database through a service known as Application Programming Interface (API).
Where necessary, the protocol show allow for authentication and authorization to enforce data management rights.
Consider who will be excluded from access the data, for instance if this is only available via an institutional platform or in a particular language.
Interoperability
“The data usually need to be integrated with other data. In addition, the data need to interoperate with applications or workflows for analysis, storage, and processing.” https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/
- Consider how other users will bring together content from various data sets, for instance to create a new project.
- For visual media, including images, video and 3D, IIIF (generally pronounced “triple-eye-eff”) supports its interoperability of across websites and institutions.
- This framework allows to provide access and shared link to a file, as well as its (meta)data .
- When implemented across many institutions overcomes data silos.
For example, through IIIF it is possible to bring together objects which physically might be in different locations. It does not require a user to download the files but simply to access the files and metadata over the web.
Reuse
“The ultimate goal of FAIR is to optimise the reuse of data.” https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/
Multidimensional data should be released with a clear and accessible data usage license.
Provenance data will help for data to not become lost.
CARE data principles
In addition, a series of principles known as CARE have been proposed by the Global Indigenous Data Alliance.
These principles include: Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics.
Their focus on enhancing these principles by leveling power relationships where data is created within certain social and historical context.
Challenge: CARE principles for your data practice
Could you reflect on what implications following the CARE principles has for your personal practice when creating, collecting and using data.
For more information:
- Carroll, S.R., Garba, I., Figueroa-Rodríguez, O.L., Holbrook, J., Lovett, R., Materechera, S., Parsons, M., Raseroka, K., Rodriguez-Lonebear, D., Rowe, R., Sara, R., Walker, J.D., Anderson, J. and Hudson, M., 2020. The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. Data Science Journal, 19(1), p.43.DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2020-043
- Wilkinson, M., Dumontier, M., Aalbersberg, I. et al. The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. Sci Data 3, 160018 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18
Key Points
| Principle | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Findability | - Available metadata - Allow for searchability - Persistent IDs |
| Accesibility | - Use web protocols for access - Allow for authorisation - Digital inclusion/exclusion |
| Interoperability | - Data integration - Overcomes data silos - IIIF for visual media |
| Reuse | - License content - Avoid data becoming lost |