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Addendum 1.0 to SCAR Report #9 (August 1992)
January 22, 2002

Data-collector costs and data submission for CD-ROM production

SCAR Report 9
Addendum 1.0 Appendix A Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III
Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F

SCAR Report #9 outlines the guidelines of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Antarctic Seismic Data Library System for Cooperative Research (SDLS) and the costs that data collectors must pay to support the production of CD-ROMs for the SDLS. The CD-ROMs are used to store digital Antarctic multichannel seismic-reflection data, and to distribute these data to SDLS branches worldwide. The purpose of this addendum is to update the policy on data-collector costs, and to outline a new cost structure for production of multiple CD-ROMs for each cruise and for volume production of CD-ROMs for multiple cruises submitted to the SDLS at the same time.

SCAR Report #9 notes that "most system costs [i.e., SDLS system] will be paid by data collectors". One large cost is that for producing the CD-ROMs for the SDLS. SCAR Report #9 does not specify the total production costs for each CD-ROM, but SCAR Recommendation XXIII-13 says "(Note: the total amount required yearly is about $50,000 to produce 10 master CD-ROMs with copies to the SDLS Libraries)"(Polar Record (1995, 31/177, p.280). From this, a cost of $5000 per CD-ROM produced was established, and was reaffirmed by data collectors after discussions at an SDLS workshop in Wellington, New Zealand on July 11, 1999 (Appendix A).

A recent evaluation of CD-ROM production costs by OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), which now produces CD-ROMS for the SDLS, shows that the largest costs are incurred for compilation and "clean-up" of cruise data sent to the SDLS by data collectors. Much of the compilation and "clean-up" work can and should be done by data collectors to minimize CD-ROM production costs. To clarify what information is required from data collectors, a checklist and examples are attached (Appendices A through E). If a complete and accurate set of information is submitted, then a two-phase cost structure will supercede the usual fee of $5000 per CD-ROM produced. The two-phase structure is:

  1. A setup charge of $5000 for each cruise which includes final compilation and verification of data required (e.g., navigation, cruise reports, SEGY seismic data, recording and processing parameters, etc.). The setup charge includes the cost of production of 1 CD-ROM.
  2. A fee of $1500 for each additional CD-ROM produced for the same cruise.

For example, if a cruise requires a total of 3 CD-ROMs, then the cost under the two-phase structure would be $5000 for the setup and $3000 for the 2 additional CD-ROMs -- giving a total of $8000. The usual cost to the data collector for producing 3 CD-ROMs for a single cruise at $5000/CD-ROM would otherwise be $15,000.

For institutions that have multiple cruises to submit in a single large shipment, then a volume discount will be given, if all required data are submitted in the correct formats with the shipment. For multiple cruises submitted at the same time:

• 1 - 5 cruises Discount 0%
• 6 - 10 cruises Discount 15%
• 11 - 15 cruises Discount 30%

The above cost structure was reviewed and approved by the ANTOSTRAT Steering Committee and is effective immediately.