A Flexible Cyberinfrastructure for Integrating Data from Large-scale Ocean Observing Systems and Delivering Online Added-value Services

Abstract

Large-scale research infrastructures, such as ocean observing systems, are delivering data at an unprecedented rate and resolution, in addition to services to a wide user community, from scientists, industries to institutions and policymakers. For example, the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water-column Observatory (EMSO) European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) consists in a system of 11 fixed-point deep-sea and water column observatories placed at key environmental sites around European seas that are equipped with multiple sensors that are constantly monitoring different biogeochemical and physical parameters, to address natural hazards, climate change and marine ecosystems. These extraordinary infrastructures provide relevant information to these different stakeholders; however, most of the cyberinfrastructure systems for acquiring, curating and delivering their data remain decoupled and follow heterogeneous practices, which makes interoperability challenging. This is part of the FAIR data vision that is addressed in initiatives such as the ENVRI-FAIR H2020 project.

Leveraging previous experiences in cyberinfrastructure leadership and marine observation such as the EMSODEV project, we have developed a data-centric cyberinfrastructure that is capable for integrating data from multiple ocean observing systems and delivering integrated online data services, with low maintenance cost. This cyberinfrastructure architecture includes different building blocks, from an expandable harmonization subsystem to data analytics capabilities, which allow building added-value services across multiple observatories and complements existing ocean data portals. Using cloud-based abstractions, it also allows scientists to focus on science by outsourcing some administrative aspects of data management and avoiding large (and potentially redundant) data transfers across international networks. This presentation focuses on the best practices for the development of such a cyberinfrastructure system and presents illustrative use case experiences using data from multiple ocean observing systems, including European and other networks such as ONC in Canada, OOI in the United States, and IMOS in Australia.