DATA SPECIFICATIONS

Check out the forms and guidance NOAA uses to collect field dataDIVER (Data Integration, Visualization, Exploration, and Reporting) is a NOAA application for the integration and distribution of primarily NRDA-related response, assessment, and restoration data, as well as historical data collected from hazardous sites around the country. Both environmental data and project planning data are available in DIVER. Below, we provide a general description of the data structures used in DIVER, and access to detailed data specifications.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA STRUCTURE

Environmental data are organized by data category:

• Samples: Collection data and analysis results for discrete samples; 
• Bioassay: Results from field and laboratory-based bioassay studies;
• Instruments: Packages of data from CTDs or other oceanographic instruments;
• Field Observations: Observations and measurements from field studies; 
• Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT): Shoreline surveys after an oil spill;
• Telemetry: Position tracks and related data for tagged animals; and
• Photographs: Field photos with GPS location and keywords.

Each data category contains a set of fields necessary to describe that data. Some common fields, like date and coordinates, appear in multiple categories (see diagram). Fields that appear in every environmental data category are known as core fields and form the fundamental relationships among data categories.

In DIVER, queries across multiple data categories return and map information at the core fields level (also called “Overview”). In these cross-category queries, data category-specific fields are available as related downloads. For queries within a single data category (e.g. Samples or Field Observations), the data table and maps will present a wider set of fields specific to that data category.

The DIVER Environmental Data Specification describes the underlying data structures and data exchange methods, including detailed field information and valid values, and is intended as a resource for both data providers and data users. The data specification includes a discussion of the core fields required to organize and categorize data brought into DIVER, as well as general requirements regarding submission of structured and unstructured data and metadata. The document and its appendices, including more information about DIVER data categories (1a), detailed information about fields per data category (1b), valid values and chemical codes (2), and a comparison of fields across data categories (3) are available for download here.

PROJECT & PLANNING STRUCTURE

DIVER Project & Planning data are oriented toward restoration planning and implementation. Each project is assigned a Project ID. Descriptive fields such as the project's name, phase, location, type (i.e., planning or project), and the activity under which the project is being undertaken are associated with the Project ID. Field definitions are provided in DIVER metadata. Project and Planning data from the restoration activities associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including locations, project status, funding, and monitoring activities, are currently available in DIVER Explorer or the DWH Trustee Council website.