User handbooks are produced by ICES expert groups in order to provide clear instructions or guidance on the use of the data application or process that is the target of the handbook.
The handbooks promote best practice according to the accepted standards within a given data, technology or system process or application. The handbooks may be supplemented by guidance or help within the application itself. User handbooks do not focus on marine techniques and methods, but offer simple operating instructions for software applications and data processes. Examples include: technical guidance for WebAPI’s, and data management best practices.
The handbooks are reviewed and updated by the group responsible for their authorship on a more frequent cycle than the peer reviewed publications.
For a full overview of all the topics covered, you can browse our user handbooks in the ICES library.