Update about.md

Added and updated content. Still need to add images and links to things I don't have added to other sections.

user-guide/docs/datadepotrepo/about.md

@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@ The mission of the [Data Depot Repository (DDR)] is to provide data producers wi
 Founded in 2016, the DDR was established as an [open-access](https://www.openaccess.nl/en/what-is-open-access) data repository. Supported by the (National Science Foundation)[https://www.nsf.gov/], it preserves and provides access to natural hazards research data including [legacy datasets](https://designsafe-ci.org/data/browser/public/nees.public) dating back to 2005 generated under the NSF-supported Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES), the predecessor to NHERI. Since 2020 DDR is a [Core Trust Seal Certified Data Repository](https://www.coretrustseal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230126-designsafe_final.pdf) ensuring the sustainability and trustworthiness of its infrastructure and the data it preserves.
 
 ## Governance 
-DDR governance aims to ensure effective and secure data curation and publication in compliance with relevant regulations and best practices, supporting the discovery, access, preservation and reuse of critical research data. Governance is managed by the DesignSafe management team, which is responsible for setting and updating policies, recommending best practices, overseeing technical development, and prioritizing key activities and services encompassing datasets, systems, and processes associated with the DDR. All activities are driven by the research community of practice operationalized by the NHERI network, and informed by digital library standards. The broad organizational structure under which the DDR operates is [here](https://designsafe-ci.org/about/designsafe/). To ensure continuous improvement, there are processes in place for regular evaluation and updates, along with different feedback mechanisms for users to provide input and suggest enhancements.
+DDR governance aims to ensure effective and secure data curation and publication in compliance with relevant regulations and best practices, supporting the discovery, access, preservation and reuse of critical research data. Governance is managed by the DesignSafe management team, which is responsible for setting and updating policies, recommending best practices, overseeing technical development, and prioritizing key activities and services encompassing datasets, systems, and processes associated with the DDR. All activities are driven by the research community of practice operationalized by the NHERI network, and informed by digital library standards. The broad organizational structure under which the DDR operates is [here](https://designsafe-ci.org/about/designsafe/). 
 
 An Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and feedback on DesignSafe's initiatives and activities. Established with 7 members representing the broader natural hazards community, the board holds bi-annual meetings and helps shape the DDR's direction, ensuring it meets the evolving needs and challenges of the natural hazards community. More information on the board can be found here.
 
+Formal mechanisms are in place for external evaluators to gather feedback and conduct structured assessments, in the form of usability studies and yearly user surveys, to ensure that the repository is meeting the community’s expectations and needs.  All DDR activities are reported to the National Science Foundation on a quarterly and annual basis in terms of quantitative and qualitative progress. To ensure continuous improvement, there are processes in place for regular evaluation and updates, along with different feedback mechanisms for users to provide input and suggest enhancements.
+
 ## Repository Infrastructure
 DesignSafe including DDR are hosted at the [Texas Advanced Computing Center](https://tacc.utexas.edu/)(TACC)at the [University of Texas at Austin](https://www.utexas.edu/). TACC provides access to high performance computing, visualization, and large scale data analysis computational resources, as well as to reliable large scale data management and storage solutions. Cloud and portal services further increase the ways in which users can access data and computational resources to advance their work.
 
 ## Repository Team 
-An interdisciplinary repository team carries out ongoing design, development, and day-to-day operations of the DDR. The team gathers requirements and discusses solutions through bi-weekly meetings with members of the DesignSafe management team as well as with regular meetings with members of the [NHERI network](https://designsafe-ci.org/about/) to meet the requirements and commitments of their distinct research focus and functions.. Based on these fluid communications, the team designs functionalities, researches and develops best-practices, and implements agreed-upon solutions. The figure below shows the current formation of the repository team.
+An interdisciplinary repository team carries out ongoing design, development, and day-to-day operations of the DDR. The team gathers requirements and discusses solutions through bi-monthly meetings with members of the DesignSafe management team as well as with members of the [NHERI network](https://designsafe-ci.org/about/) to meet the requirements and commitments of their distinct research focus and functions. To track development the DDR curator meets every other week with the DesignSafe PI and with the head of the development team. Based on these fluid communications, the team designs functionalities, researches and develops best-practices, and implements agreed-upon solutions. The figure below shows the current formation of the repository team.
 
 ## Community of Practice
 The DDR serves the natural hazards research community, both data producers and consumers. This research community includes primarely the facilities that make up the [NHERI network](https://designsafe-ci.org/about/), for which the DDR is the designated data repository. In addition DDR welcomes data produced in other national and international facilities and organizations. At large, the repository serves a broad national and international audience of natural hazard researchers, students, practitioners, policy makers, as well as the general public. By providing access to a broad range of natural hazards data, DDR aims to support and accelerate research, education, and informed decision-making on a global scale.