DGS Data Preservation
OverviewThe Delaware Geological Survey (DGS) is a science-based, public-service-driven Delaware state
agency at the University of Delaware (UD) that conducts geologic and hydrologic research,
service, and exploration for the benefit of the citizens of the First State. The mission of the DGS
is to provide objective earth science information, advice, and service to its stakeholders–the
citizens, policy makers, industries, and educational institutions of Delaware. Geology is a
physical science that is built upon the description and analysis of earth materials including rocks,
sediment, and water. Data generated by the description and analysis of these earth materials is
the basis of the geologic and hydrologic research of the DGS. In order to ensure that the
research is objective, the data must be preserved and retrievable for both DGS researchers and
for stakeholders that wish to review or use the data. The data consist of physical samples (rock
and sediment and their processed subsamples) and analog (non-digital) data (well and drill-hole
data (location, owner, depth, etc.), water levels and other physical observations, maps, and rock
and sample descriptions, and other data and interpretations) that document the physical samples
or are the results of research. The analog data may be duplicated in a digital format either in a
database (DGS Watsys) or as digital scans of the analog data or may be derivative data and
interpretations that are only in a digital format.
DGS Data Repositories
Physical Sample RepositorySince the inception of the DGS in the 1950’s, physical samples have been collected and retained
as a part of the DGS core and sample repository. Physical samples include:
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Well cuttings
Sediment and rock cores
Fossils
Sediment and rock samples from outcrops
Processed samples from the above including pollen and microfossil slides and rock thin
sections
Analog RepositoryThe DGS analog repository consists of the following:
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Well and outcrop records- Paper records stored in notebooks that contains geographic,
well construction, and geologic data related to wells and geographic and geologic data
related to outcrops.
Geophysical logs
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Supplemental files- Paper records stored in file cabinets, map cabinets, and storage boxes
of unpublished notes, maps, files, correspondence, DGS contract reports, and consulting
reports related to the geology of Delaware.
Maps- Paper maps stored in flat file map cabinets.
Photographic images- Sets of aerial photographs, photographs of DGS activities, outcrop
photographs, and 35 mm slides stored in file cabinets and
Administrative files- Correspondence and notes related to DGS activities.
In-House Research DatabasesThe DGS in-house research databases consists of the following:
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Petrographic Thin Section Database
Radiocarbon Database
Delaware Earthquakes Database
Microfossil Database
Palynology (Fossil Pollen) Database
Stratigraphic Pick Database
Geochronologic Age Database (ages from detrital zircons)
DGS Data Preservation Plan
Physical SamplesPhysical samples are the primary data upon which DGS geologic research is conducted. It is a
vital part of the DGS mission that these samples be retained in a repository in perpetuity for the
following reasons:
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Sites from which the samples were obtained are now inaccessible due to post-sampling
construction or other reasons.
Re-sampling of a site is cost-prohibitive. For samples from deeper wells, re-drilling
would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. For samples in the OCS sample
repository, re-drilling would cost millions of dollars.
Analytical techniques are constantly improving or changing and new analyses are being
developed. Having a collection of samples is vital for taking advantage of these
techniques.
Samples collected in the course of one project, may be useful for a later project.
Over the past 10 years, the DGS has made an effort to enhance the preservation of the samples in
the physical sample repository. This effort has included transferring samples in deteriorating
cloth sample bags and samples in glass jars to mylar sample bags stored in stackable storage
boxes, acquisition of shelving units for storage of the samples, and transferring rock cores from
oversize wooden crates to stackable cardboard storage boxes. As a result of this effort, the need
for a large-scale data preservation plan for the physical samples is not necessary. The following
tasks have been identified for future work but are of low priority.
1. Cull through the outcrop sample collection and discard samples that do not have
associated geographic coordinates or other subsidiary data. This task will have priority as
space is needed for other samples.
2. Inventory and organize the fossil collection.
3. Inventory and organize the microfossil slide collection.
4. Reorganize the offshore vibracore samples.
5. Conduct a detailed inventory of the Atlantic OCS repository.
Analog dataAnalog data contain the basic geographic and geologic data upon which DGS research is built.
These data represent unique data that if damaged or destroyed cannot be replicated or can be
replicated with a great deal of effort. Much of the geographic data associated with wells and
outcrops are replicated in a digital format in an Oracle database (DGS Watsys) that is backed up.
Some of the geologic data, especially those generated in the last ten years are also replicated in a
digital format that is backed up. Most of the geologic data, however, are only on paper format.
These data are considered to be the most at risk and are a high priority for a preservation effort.
A majority of the photographic images have been converted to digital formats in a project funded
by a USGS Data Preservation grant and for GIS dissemination (DataMIL aerial photographs).
These are not a priority for any further preservation effort. All the geophysical logs have been
scanned, digitized, and converted to a LAS format. No further preservation is needed for these
data.
The following in order of priority are the analog data that need to be preserved in a digital
format.
1. Outcrop data- Descriptions of outcrop and hand auger borings. These data other than the
geographic data contained in the files are not duplicated anywhere else.
2. Well and test boring data- Geographic data, well construction data, permit data, and
drillers and geologists logs. Geographic data are contained in a digital database (DGS
Watsys). Data related to well permits (applications, completion reports, drillers logs) are
have the primary records housed at DNREC in Dover. Any wells and borings not
associated with permits, geologists logs, sample descriptions, notes, hand drawn location
maps, and other data are not duplicated anywhere else.
3. Supplemental files- Paper records stored in file cabinets, map cabinets, and storage boxes
of unpublished notes, maps, files, correspondence, DGS contract reports, and consulting
reports related to the geology of Delaware. These data are mostly unique and are not
likely replicated anywhere else or could only be obtained again with great effort.
4. Maps- These data include topographic field maps, historical maps, and other
miscellaneous formats. All USGS topographic maps are already preserved in a digital
format. The other maps need to be inventoried and prioritized in terms of preservation.
5. Administrative files- For the most part these files are maintained in accordance with UD
policies and are not in need of preservation. Some files have been transferred to State of
Delaware Archives (Delaware State Boundary records).
In-House Research DatabasesSome in-house databases will never be made available to the public or stakeholders as they are
tools to help with interpreting geologic data gathered in the field and gathered from processing of
DGS physical samples; However, some contain important value added information from
processed samples that are relevant to other researchers interested in Delaware geology as a part
of the larger geologic picture and geologic history of the North American continent. Some of the
in-house have been made available in spreadsheet forms over the years for general distribution or
for research interests. Others than have more data and images attached to them have not been
able to be made available and reside in MS Access databases located within the DGS computing
framework. Of the ones listed in the section above, the Petrographic Thin Section and
Radiocarbon databases are mature enough to be considered for release to the public via
searchable web pages on the DGS web site. Additional programming work would be needed to
accomplish this release. Others may be considered as time allows. The priority for conversion of
these in-house databases to web accessible databases is as follows:
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Petrographic Thin Section Database
Radiocarbon Database
Delaware Earthquakes Database
Palynology Database
Geochronologic Age Database
Microfossil Database
Stratigraphic Pick Database
Future GoalsThe major future goal of preserving all our differing types of data is to make all possible data
available to our customers and stakeholders over the internet. By doing this, we open up the
DGS resources, which are public domain, to the largest possible community of users both locally
and globally. With current and future demands for data being explored first over the Internet,
Data needs to be findable if we want researchers to know it exists.