DPDG Document Cheat Sheet: A Quick Guide For NASA-Funded Earth Science Data Producers

Introduction

The NASA Data Product Development Guide (DPDG) is a comprehensive resource outlining best practices and standards for scientists and researchers developing Earth science data products archived by NASA. It provides detailed guidance on data product design, formatting, metadata, and publication processes to ensure consistent, high-quality, and user-friendly data products.

However, for those unfamiliar with its content, the DPDG document can present a steep learning curve.

This cheat sheet is designed to improve its usability by summarizing key actions at each stage of the data product development lifecycle and directing users to the relevant sections of the DPDG, making the document easier to understand and navigate efficiently.

Scope

This cheat sheet is based on the DPDG document, which focuses on NASA-funded Earth science data product development lifecycle, including design, production, documentation, and delivery stages. It does not cover observation lifecycle, the re-ROSES stage, or data dissemination and service stages.

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by NASA’s contracts with Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It was performed in support of the Earth Science Data and Information Systems (ESDIS) Project at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). We thank members of the Data Producer Resources Working Group (DPRWG), the Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC), and the ESDIS Project for their valuable feedback and beneficial comments. 

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this cheat sheet are solely those of the authors and do not constitute or imply the endorsement by NASA and the affiliated institutions.

Recommended Citation

Peng, G., H.K. Ramapriyan, and E.M. Armstrong, 2025: DPDG Document Cheat Sheet: A Quick Guide for NASA-funded Earth Science Data Producers. Version: v01r00-20250314. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14606603. License:CC0 1.0 + Attribution.