One of the major portions of the DMP should be about the long-term preservation of the data and how it will be shared with others. Unclassified, publicly releasable research data supported by DoD funding should be stored in such a way that it is publicly accessible. It is highly suggested that researchers deposit their data in an appropriate repository, rather than try to preserve their own data long-term. The custodians of a repository have the skill, expertise, and time to make sure that data stored there is well taken care of.
Not only is appropriately sharing unclassified data a requirement of DoD-funded research, it's one of the best contributions you can make to the scientific community. It promotes discovery and collaboration, reduces redundant research, and supports the validation and replication of research results. It can also increase the impact of your research and help you get cited more often.
Information that should be included in the preservation and sharing section include:
Unclassified data saved in a PDF format can be deposited to the Research Commons as a stop-gap measure by submitting a repository deposit request.
Some questions to ask yourself while writing this portion of the DMP include:
What data holds long-term value?
Good data preservation holds high time and financial costs. Therefore, you want to be selective about the data that you're preserving. Projects receiving federal funding need to preserve the data needed to validate your research findings. Any additional data preserved should have potential long-term value to other researchers.
Examples of data with potential long-term value: Data from one-time events; experimental data; data that is not easily reproduced; data that is costly to reproduce
Where will you preserve the data?
As stated above, a repository is oftentimes the safest place for data long-term. If you're choosing to deposit your data in a repository, name the specific repository, explain why you chose that repository, and note specific policies or procedures that you will need to follow in order to deposit your data to their site.
Repository Finder and re3data are repository databases that can help you find the right repository for your data. You can also reach out to a Research Commons expert for a list of repositories appropriate for your data.
If a repository isn't the right answer for your data, make sure to explain what you will do instead and why you have chosen to go that route.
Who will see this data?
Not all data should be accessible to all people, for a variety of reasons. Some repositories offer to restrict data in some capacity, either by requiring certain credentials to access the data or by requiring permission from the PI. Before selecting a repository for long-term storage, make sure that their policies line up with any potential restrictions you need.
Is this data findable and useful?
Metadata makes data findable; documentation makes the data useful. Some repositories won't accept data that lacks proper documentation and metadata, but it's still up to you to make sure that your data is described well-enough that people can find and use it.