Open Science, Knowledge Sharing and Reproducibility as Drivers for the Adoption of Foss4g in Environmental Research

Abstract

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Support for open science is a highly relevant user requirement for the environmental data portal EnviDat. EnviDat, the institutional data portal and publication data repository of the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, actively implements the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability) principles and provides a range of services in the area of research data management. Open science, with its requirements for improved knowledge sharing and reproducibility, is driving the adoption of free and open source software for geospatial (FOSS4G) in academic research. Open source software can play a key role in the proper documentation of data sets, processes and methodologies, because it supports the transparency of methods and the precise documentation of all steps needed to achieve the published results. EnviDat actively supports these activities to enhance its support for open science. With EnviDat, WSL contributes to the ongoing cultural evolution in research towards open science and opportunities for distant collaboration.</p>