Research Data Management

PRISM Data is a research data repository for UCalgary faculty, students, and staff. Researchers can choose to make datasets available publicly, share them with specific individuals, or keep them private for a period of time. PRISM Data is part of the Borealis network, a Canadian repository network using the Dataverse repository platform.

PRISM Data works in tandem with UCalgary's institutional repository for publications and non-data materials, PRISM. Not sure where you should put your work? Use our decision tree (also available in a text-only format). 

You can find a short video overview (approx. 9 minutes) of PRISM Data here.

Why should I use PRISM Data?

Scenario 1: I need to share my data in order to comply with journal publisher and/or research funder data sharing policies.

• Dataverse is a recognized digital repository platform that can help you to meet journal publisher and funder policies. PRISM Data is the University of Calgary's local Dataverse. 
• You can deposit your data at any time prior to journal publication. PRISM Data allows for you to create a DOI for your data, provide a publisher with a private link to your data, embargo access until you are ready to share your data publicly, and modify metadata as needed to add in publication metadata.

Scenario 2: I would like to share my data for discovery and possible use beyond my research team.

• PRISM Data allows for you to easily describe, deposit and share your data. 
• The DOI (digital object identifier) assigned to your data is a persistent and unique identifier that promotes both discoverability and sharing of your data.
• Your data are automatically indexed in major search engines as well as other discovery platforms, such as Google Dataset Search and Lunaris.

Scenario 3: I would like to track the use of my data by others.

• PRISM Data automatically tracks metrics such as the number of downloads of your data. 
• PRISM Data allows you to create a guestbook that collects information about who is downloading your data. You can decide to collect account information (e.g., name, affiliation, role) as well as create optional custom questions.  
• You are able to download information collected within guestbooks to store and use outside of PRISM Data.
• PRISM Data generates suggested citation text for your data, so that others can cite your work appropriately.

Scenario 4: I would like to share my data through mediated access.

• PRISM Data allows you to set restrictions on file access - from open access to restricted and mediated access.
• You may allow users to request access to your restricted files by enabling the “Request Access” feature.
• PRISM Data allows for you to create a custom ‘Terms of Use’ which can communicate end user obligations, as well as to provide applicable information related to mediated access processes. 

What does PRISM Data NOT do?  

• Archive/preservation limitations
  • PRISM Data is designed for data sharing, but may be limited in its long-term preservation capabilities. If you need to preserve data for the long term, please contact research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com to discuss your needs.
  • It is always recommended to keep copies of your data in multiple places and have full metadata for your files.

• Large data magnitude - i.e., large quantity and size of files
  • PRISM Data currently allows a maximum of 5GB per file.
  • A zip file uploaded to Dataverse can currently contain a maximum of 1000 files.

• Limited previewers and no file streaming
  • Some files in PRISM Data can be previewed online, but others need to be downloaded to be viewed. 
  • PRISM Data does not support streaming; audiovisual files need to be downloaded to be used.

• Hosting sensitive data or data which you do not have permission to share
  • See our PRISM Data Policies for more information.