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Requirements are increasing for sharing the datasets that underline research. Funding agencies are requiring that research data be preserved, discoverable, accessible, and reusable. Journal publishers are also asking that the data sets that support the research findings in a paper be made available. As a way to address these requirements, datasets may be uploaded into INDIGO.
If you have sensitive data, INDIGO is not an appropriate place for the data. Instead, create a metadata only record which will allows others know the data is stored elsewhere and it can be made available upon request, with the correct security and credentials.
When should you deposit your data in INDIGO?
When should you create a metadata only record about your data in INDIGO?
Because of space limits in INDIGO, you can create metadata only records to let others know of your data without uploading your data. You need to include information about who to contact and any requirements that need to be met to access the data.
To prepare your data for Deposit in INDIGO, there are many considerations including: selecting the dataset(s) to share), describing your data, preparing documentation for data re-use, file formats, file names. See How to Prepare your Data for Deposit: File and Metadata Prep for more details. Describing your Data in INDIGO (metadata) and Preparing Documentation (README file, data dictionary, data use policies and requirements are all important details to include when uploading in INDIGO.
Describing your Data in INDIGO (metadata) - see also Step by Step Guide on Uploading Datasets in INDIGO
Item Title. Enter a title that is meaningful and reflects the content that you are uploading.
Authors: enter the names of the dataset owners
Mandatory fields: There are several mandatory fields that need to be filled in including: Item title, Item Type, Authors, Keywords, Description, and the License
Item Type: Select Dataset
Description: Provide sufficient detail to enable others to easily understand whether the data is of interest. It is also good to include information about your use policies, data characteristics and preservation plan. Information to include here include:
Related Materials: (strongly recommended) related materials is optional but it is a great way to link to material to provide more context for your data, such as the article(s) that were published related to your data. Select Identifier Type - DOI to enter the title and DOI of the articles that the dataset you uploaded supplements.
Click for a Step by Step Guide on Uploading Datasets in INDIGO
Additional documentation: It is also important that you include README files, Data Dictionaries to facilitate data re-use. If you are creating a metadata only record, it may also be helpful to still include README files, Data Dictionaries, and sample datasets to help someone determine in advance if your data is of value to you.
How to Reserve a DOI for dataset associated with journal article
To the right of the INDIGO submission screen, there are Item actions.
Click Edit timeline in order to enter the publication data of the item. If is has not been published before, it is ok to select today’s date to reflect the data it was uploaded in INDIGO.
Create metadata only records in INDIGO, in order to make others aware of the potential availability of your data. You might choose to do this because of the size of your file (INDIGO file size and storage space is limited) or because your data is confidential, private, or sensitive (INDIGO is not HIPAA compliant). (See Data Storage Options at UIC and Beyond for other data storage options). The metadata record will inform individuals of the type of data that you have available and the steps required to be granted access for re-use.
The reasons you may publish a metadata only record include:
To create a metadata only record, you will still need to do much of the same things as you would if you were uploading actual data. The metadata (data about your data) needs to be informative so that the content of your data is clear. You may end up uploading Read Me files, data dictionaries, and a sample data set so that interested parties have a good idea of your datasets and know that it is of interest to them, before they go through the steps to gain access to your data. If you plan to upload files, with the exception of the actual dataset(s), you will not select metadata only records in INDIGO.
For more information and guidance, see:
As part of actual submission process in INDIGO, you will be required to provide metadata in specific form fields. (Step by Step Guide on Uploading Datasets in INDIGO) . Preparing Documentation (README files, data dictionaries, data use policies and requirements, and sample data sets are all important details to include when uploading in INDIGO.
Information fields (metadata) include:
Description: Provide sufficient detail to enable others to easily understand whether the data is of interest. It is also good to include information about your use policies, data characteristics and preservation plan. Information to include here include:
Optional fields include:
To the right of the INDIGO submission screen, there are Item actions.
INDIGO can be used for data storage and data discovery
Regardless of whether you store your data directly in INDIGO or create a meta-data only record in INDIGO, please prepare Readme and data dictionary files as appropriate to facilitate the re-use of data.
MyActivities: For faculty with a MyActivities account, depositing data in INDIGO or creating a metadata only record in INDIGO will also create a Dataset record in MyActivities in Scholarly & Creative Works so you don't need to re-enter the information. Alternatively, if you have entered the information in MyActivities, you can click the Deposit button next to the record to upload the dataset into INDIGO.
UIC has several options for storing data. Please see the Data Storage Finder UIC for more details. INDIGO is appropriate for small data sets that do not contain sensitive or private information. INDIGO does allow the creation of metadata only records in order to share the availability of large data sets or data sets that contain sensitive information. The metadata only record would provide information about the limitations or the data and the appropriate requirements required for data reuse (i.e. IRB approval)
Please note there are many data repositories available, including subject discipline repositories which may be more appropriate for your data. Consult the Registry of Research Data Repositories (https://www.re3data.org/) to explore other options for depositing your research data.
Research data from all fields, subjects, and disciplines at the University of Illinois at Chicago may be published and/or archived in INDIGO, provided the following conditions are met:
Please email indigo@uic.edu prior to writing the use of INDIGO into your grant data management plan to confirm there will be enough space available for your data and if INDIGO is appropriate.
How to Reserve a DOI for dataset associated with journal article
To the right of the INDIGO submission screen, there are Item actions.
Click Edit timeline in order to enter the publication data of the item. If is has not been published before, it is ok to select today’s date to reflect the data it was uploaded in INDIGO.
Having trouble with the INDIGO website? Email INDIGO@uic.edu
Need to increase your INDIGO space quota? Email INDIGO@uic.edu
Have a question about data management or documentation? Email LIB-DATA@uic.edu to ask a question or request a consultation with one of our librarians.
Learn more about data management at: https://researchguides.uic.edu/dataplans