Environmental data are a valuable resource. A planned approach of how data are to be acquired, stored, managed and archived for re-use will help to ensure maximum benefits from good quality data are obtained, for example:   

• Managing risk  - Planning ahead helps minimise risks to the data and their use helping to ensure that they are fit for purpose. 

• Quality Assurance  - Planning in advance increases the likelihood that high quality data will be produced by the project. 

• Audit trail  -Documenting how data will be created, acquired, manipulated and analysed provides an audit trail. This contributes to the creation of a transparent, repeatable process. 

• Long-term security and accessible data  - A data management plan will detail what happens to data at the end of the project to ensure that they are held securely and made available for the long-term. 

Contact us by clicking on our help beacon below to speak to one of our Environmental Data Centres or to browse our collection of guidance documents and FAQs. We have trained staff who will help you create a Data Management Plan for your project