Apologies for any cross-posting
Jisc in partnership
with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) have commissioned work by
Neil Beagrie of Charles Beagrie Ltd and Professor John Houghton of Victoria
University to examine the value and impact of the British Atmospheric Data
Centre (BADC). We are pleased to announce publication today of the study
report.
The key findings
The study shows the benefits of integrating qualitative
approaches exploring user perceptions and non-economic dimensions of value with
quantitative economic approaches to measuring the value and impacts of research
data services.
The measurable economic benefits of BADC substantially
exceed its operational costs. A very significant increase in research
efficiency was reported by users as a result of their using BADC data and
services, estimated to be worth at least £10 million per annum.
The value of the increase in return on investment in data
resulting from the additional use facilitated by the BADC was estimated to be
between £11 million and £34 million over thirty years (net present value) from
one-year’s investment – effectively, a 4-fold to 12-fold return on
investment in the BADC service.
The qualitative analysis also shows strong support for the
BADC, with many users and depositors aware of the value of the services for
them personally and for the wider user community.
For example, the user survey showed that 81% of the academic
users who responded reported that BADC was very or extremely important for
their academic research, and 53% of respondents reported that it would have a
major or severe impact on their work if they could not access BADC data and
services.
Surveyed depositors cited having the data preserved for the
long-term and its dissemination being targeted to the academic community, as
the most beneficial aspects of depositing data with the BADC, both rated as a
high or very high benefit by around 76% of respondents.
The study report
The study report is available for download as a PDF file at:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/di_directions/strategicdirections/badc.aspx
The British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC)
The BADC, based at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK, is
the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Designated Data Centre
for the Atmospheric Sciences. Its role is to assist UK atmospheric researchers
to locate, access, and interpret atmospheric data and to ensure the long-term
integrity of atmospheric data produced by NERC projects. There
is also considerable interest from the international research community in BADC
data holdings.
Neil Beagrie
Director of Consultancy
Charles Beagrie Ltd
www.beagrie.com
Tel: +44 (0)1722 338482
Charles Beagrie Ltd is a company
registered in England and Wales Company No. 04481473
Registered Office: 2 Helena
Terrace, Salisbury SP1 3AN.