U of T Dataverse in Borealis is the University of Toronto’s institutional data repository. It is hosted by Borealis, a secure, bilingual, multidisciplinary repository platform that supports discovery, management, sharing, and preservation of Canadian research data. Borealis is supported by academic libraries and research institutions across Canada, with the University of Toronto operating as the national service provider.
U of T Dataverse Features
- Free to U of T researchers. U of T Dataverse is free to use and accepts data from research conducted at or under the auspices of U of T. Please note that U of T Dataverse does not currently accept sensitive or confidential data.
- Accepts all data types. U of T Dataverse accepts all types of files, including documents, images, video, audio, tabular files, compressed files, and more.
- Persistent identifiers. All published datasets receive a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), making it easy to share and cite your data (e.g., https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/SCB4JJ).
- Automatically generated citations. U of T Dataverse automatically generates a recommended citation for all datasets. This makes it easy for future users to properly cite your data and ensures you are properly credited for your research.
- Preservation. All data is stored on secure servers located at U of T and undergoes monthly integrity checks to protect against data loss and corruption.
- Discoverability. Published datasets are automatically indexed for discovery, meaning they can be discovered through platforms like Google, Lunaris, DataCite, and other data indexes.
- Controlled access. U of T Dataverse allows you to share your data openly or restrict access at the dataset and file level.
Is U of T Dataverse the best repository for my data?
Choosing the right repository will help ensure your data is preserved, discoverable and accessible. Below are some considerations to help you decide if U of T Dataverse is the right repository for you:
- Journal and funder requirements. Some funders or publishers may have expectations related to data deposit or sharing, such as requiring or recommending the use of specific repositories.
- Disciplinary data. Depending on your field of study, there may be a disciplinary data repository that is a better fit for your data. Depositing your data in a repository that is commonly used in your discipline makes it more likely to be discovered by other researchers in your field.
- Confidential and sensitive data. At this time, U of T Dataverse is not an appropriate repository for sensitive or confidential data. All files must be anonymized or de-identified before being deposited.
- File size. At this time, the maximum file size for individual file uploads in U of T Dataverse is 5 GB. A dataset containing multiple files can exceed 5 GB as long as each individual file is 5 GB or less.