Overview

The Site Survey Data Bank (SSDB) is a long-term repository for data submitted in support of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) proposals and expeditions. Using tools available in the SSDB, Proponents submit digital files (data, images, or documents) for evaluation by Reviewers, who make recommendations to IODP through the panels of the scientific advisory system. Submission deadlines are posted on the SSDB web site (http://ssdb.iodp.org), and are typically one month before each panel meeting. Many of the digital files in the SSDB are available for public access, although any proprietary hold requirements specified by proponents are strictly enforced.  As proposals evolve into funded expeditions, the SSDB also provides expedition packages of files to support drilling operations and scientific analysis.

Uploading Data via SSDBupload

To upload data, Proponents first need to request an account through the Register link on the left hand menu, and then log on and use the My Account link to request access to a specific proposal. SSDBupload is the primary tool for uploading and submitting data files, along with the metadata information that provides the necessary context for each file.  For step-by-step instructions on using SSDBupload, see the guide on How to Submit Files to SSDB. Proponents should check and revise their metadata and data for accuracy and currency as needed before clicking the final submit button in SSDBupload. After you submit your final version with SSDBupload, SSDB staff takes over and performs quality control and may contact you via email to any any issues.  Once quality control is complete, SSDB staff formally publishes the files in the SSDB Digital Library.

Additional tools on SSDB support the data submission process. SSDBstatus allows Proponents to check the status of all files that have been uploaded, and as long as the final submit button was not pushed in SSDBupload, SSDBstatus provides an independent opportunity to view and edit metadata, and to make the final submission. SSDBquery is available to search for files that have been published. Although not commonly used, SSDBCopy allows Proponents to copy sets of data from a previous proposal into a new one, which may save time over re-loading each file.  SSDBcopy is also used by IODP-MI and Proponents to create expedition packages. 

The SSDB is also a resource for data that have been released for public use.   Please note that Proponents are able to set the access control to "hold" during the SSDBupload process; held data are never served publicly.  The SSDB will strictly enforce your proprietary requirements. Security filters are in place to make sure that any files you have placed on hold are only available to the proponent and IODP-designated Reviewers, via password protection. The metadata for files, however, such as the information that a file of a particular type exists for a particular proposal, are made publicly available.

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SSDB and the Proposal Database

The SSDB and the Proposal Database are two separate systems that support the IODP proposal process. When proposals are first submitted to IODP, the cover sheet, supporting forms, and the narrative documents that describe the scientific value of the project are stored in a "Proposal Database" managed by IODP-MI. General information for Proponents, including proposal submission deadlines and guidelines, is posted to http://www.iodp.org/drilling-proposals/. Proposal documents are uploaded from http://proposals.iodp.org/cur/iodp_psp/.

The Site Survey Data Bank (SSDB) holds data files that are submitted by Proponents in support of their proposals, and serves the needs of Reviewers, as they evaluate each drill site and proposal. It is a separate operation, currently maintained at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (http://ssdb.iodp.org), under contract from IODP-MI, and hosted with high bandwidth and system reliability at the San Diego Supercomputer Center.

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Drill Site Names

IODP-MI carefully controls the versioning of site names. Proposed drill sites tend to move as ideas evolve, and to reduce confusion each new location is given a new name in a sequence, rather than allowing an old name to have new coordinates. Using information from proposal documents and communications with Proponents, the official list of site names and coordinates is maintained by IODP-MI and periodically updated in the SSDB.

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Searching and Downloading Published Data

SSDBquery is the preferred tool for accessing data within the SSDB, and is available from the menu bar on the left of the window.  Searches can be constrained by a variety of criteria, such as Proposal Number, Site Names, Data Type (e.g., Bathymetry or SeismicMultiChannel), Data Object Type (e.g., Map or Profile Image), Format (e.g., SEGY or PDF), Access Control, Submission Date or lat-lon bounds. 

The level of data access depends on the kind of user.  Those who are using the site without an account can see metadata (a description of the kinds of files held for each expedition), but not access any data.  Users with basic accounts, which are available from SSDB upon request, can see the metadata and access data that have been released from proprietary hold.  Those with Proponent and Reviewer accounts can access proprietary data for proposals for which they have responsibilities.  New accounts can be requested through the Register link on the left menu, and changes in account status can be requested from the My Account link visible on the left menu once logged on.  

Each search produces a results page (example below) that provides instructions on a number of useful further actions, including sorting, viewing metadata, previewing with a thumbnail browse image, downloading and viewing individual files, viewing in Google Earth, and exporting selectable metadata into spreadsheet format.  For users who do not have seismic viewing software, a limited number of simultaneous licenses for the commercial INTviewer Java application are available for viewing and analyzing SEGY files through the SSDB site. Clicking on the "INT" icon just to the left of a SEGY filename in the SSDBquery results page will initiate the launch. You will need to click on the "Continue" button when it appears in the next window, and also authorize permission for the application. Java is required on your computer. The actual SEGY file remains on the SSDB server, while images are displayed on the user's computer. Performance issues limit file size to 30 MB over the internet, which is adequate for the majority of the holdings

To view sample locations on a map (see figure below), click the "View using Google Earth" button at the top, and follow the instructions that appear in the next window.

The SSDBviewer interactive Java application is an alternative to SSDBQuery to find and access files in SSDB, and view them on a background map. We have found that most users prefer the simpler SSDBquery webform tool, with its Google Earth display. SSDBviewer, like SSDBquery, gives access to INTviewer for visualizing and analyzing SEGY files.

SSDBlegacy provides a search interface for data, physical objects, and basic proposal and site information submitted before 2005, when the SSDB library was launched. Users can search by proposal numbers, site numbers, and a few additional fields like proponent name (for proposals) and filename (for digital files).

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