Ownership and Core Principles
Information from the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) is made available under the Norwegian License for Public Data (NLOD). When using information from NGU, the following text must be provided: "Contains data under the Norwegian license for public data (NLOD) made available by the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU)."
NGU is committed to ensuring that our data adheres to the international FAIR principles, making it findable, accessible, interoperable, and reproducible. Data that NGU uses for its own research and method development is processed in line with the Norwegian government's strategy for the availability and sharing of research data. Third parties reusing NGU's data should follow the same principles for NGU's datasets.
NGU encourages the use of its geological maps. This ensures you have the most up-to-date data at all times. We have connection addresses for WMS services, and you can also send a request with information about what you need to wmsdrift@ngu.no.
The NGU processes data in accordance with national laws and regulations, and NGU's current requirements for collection, quality assurance, archiving, and dissemination. In addition to data collected by the NGU, we also manage data from other national and international entities. Such data cannot be released without an agreement with the data owner, unless shared by NGU under the Norwegian License for Public Data (NLOD).
User License
To safeguard the rights of NGU and its creators to receive proper credit in any future data usage and to provide indemnity for subsequent use, NGU data should be published under open data licenses, such as NLOD, or internationally recognized licenses compatible with Creative Commons (CC-BY-4.0).
Datasett
A dataset is an organized collection of data. This data policy covers all scientific and other types of datasets that NGU (The Norwegian Geological Survey) can share with the outside world. These data can be defined as:
- Monitoring and mapping data
- Experimental data
- Processed data, for instance, deliveries to the public base map (DOK)
- Documentation, such as images, publications, and documents
These can in turn be divided into several categories:
- Metadata – information about the data itself, such as time, place, measuring instrument, etc.
- Aggregated data – customized data in selected resolutions
- Processed data – interpreted data from raw data
- Baseline/raw data – non-aggregated data
Accessibility and Use
- The collection of data and mapping has occurred over long periods of time using various methods and instruments for different datasets. Therefore, there will be variations in the quality of verification and interpretation both across the datasets of the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) and potentially within each individual dataset.
- NGU's data is a valuable national resource and shall be communicated as soon as the data is quality assured.
- NGU facilitates the active dissemination of data via the Internet.
- NGU ensures that the data is in a form that makes it manageable for processing and further dissemination.
- NGU has a self-service download service that encompasses an increasing number of NGU's datasets, which can also be accessed via geonorge.no.
- NGU aims to maintain an updated overview of all its scientific data. The exchange of data with other research environments and data centers is performed in accordance with international standards and needs, as well as in clearly defined and open formats.
- NGU requires attribution when publishing results based on data from our databases.
- NGU requires all data to be treated with due research ethics. Interpretation of research data is the responsibility of the user. Some data sources may be more appropriately communicated in other ways, such as external hard drives or cloud solutions.
Exceptions for Open Access
- In cases where the availability of data could threaten the safety of individuals or national security, the datasets shall not be made openly available.
- In cases where the data cannot be anonymized, for reasons such as compliance with privacy regulations, the datasets shall not be made openly available.
- Due to considerations for publication and project collaboration, full access to specific data may be postponed for up to 2-10 years after the end of the project. It should always be considered whether the metadata can be released earlier.
- Agreements on postponement, when there is a binding agreement with third parties, such as private companies and contractors, must contain a date for the lifting of the exception. Since this will affect data availability and thus NGU's data policy, such agreements must be approved by the director of NGU or the person authorized.
Disputes
The handling of any disagreements regarding ownership and access to data is regulated at the agreement level in each project.