MARINE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Need for a better information and co-ordination

Rudy L. Herman

Science and Innovation Administration

Ministry of Flanders, Belgium

EUROCEAN2004- Plenary session 11 May 2004

RECOMMENDATIONS EXTRACTED FROM THE ESF MARINE BOARD DOCUMENT

'INTEGRATING MARINE SCIENCE IN EUROPE'

1. STRATEGIC OBSERVING AND MONITORING SYSTEMS

2. CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES

3. RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES

Availability of an oceanographic fleet + improved access and cost sharing for these infrastructural investments.

Incentives for scientific and industrial partnerships and enhanced mobility (PPPs)

Attracting and retaining young researchers into marine science. An effective European data policy . A forum to address the issues of data standards, indexing, transfer and storage. Investment in regional marine research and infrastructures Europe’s capacity for oceanographic monitoring from space should be enhanced Agreement on investment priorities for marine research.

Marine Research Infrastructures •Research vessels•Research submersibles and unmanned vehicles•Research aircraft•Moored instruments •Tide gauges•Lagrangian observations facilities•Marine observatories/•Satellite Oceanography Centres•Numerical modelling centres•Ships of Opportunity•DATA & INFORMATION CENTRES

± 50% RTD-budget

MARINE INFRASTRUCTURES (under FP5)

Access to South European Finfish Aquaculture Facilities (FR)Institute of Aquaculture (UK)

Trondheim marine systems (NO)Kristineberg Marine Research Station (SE)Bergen Marine Food Chain Research Infrastructure (NO)

Analysis of marine sediments for paleo-environmental studies (DE)CALYPSO, Giant Sediment Cores and Support (FR)European Access to Sea Floor Survey Systems (UK)GEOMAR (DE)

Marine Environment Tests and Research Infrastructure (METRI) (FR)SINTEF Multiphase Flow Laboratory (NO)Major research infrastructure of WL/DELFT hydraulics (NL)

Four strategic visions for the coming decade:

European research vessels and associated marine equipment will constitute a coherent, flexible facility that can effectively respond to a wide array of research needs in European and international waters

European waters will be supplied by a network of buoys, profilers and

sea bottom observation systems that provide coherent data for monitoring the state of the environment, for tracing climate changes, for early warning of hazardous events (e.g. harmful algal blooms, storms), for search and rescue and for operational forecasting

Samples, data analysis and other information retrieved by European

marine scientists will benefit from the networks of well equipped marine centres, including on-line access to data, calibration and quality control procedures

European marine research will be supported by an integrated and

interactive information system provided by new information technologies

European activities aiming at a more coherent and synergistic use of marine research infrastructurethe barter system of the Marine Facilities Tripartite Group (MFTG) that facilitates the sharing of German, French, Dutch and UK marine facilities (established 1996)ESF European Research Vessel Operators group, to encourage adoption of standardised operational procedures (established 2000)ESF Oceanographic Vessel Operators group, to exchange information and best practise in operational procedures (established 1999)EuroGOOS, association of 31 agencies, founded in 1994, to further the development of Operational Oceanography in the European Sea areas and adjacent oceansthe EU Marine XML project to improve the interoperability of data for the marine community and specifically in support of marine observing systemsthe European information Centre for Marine Science and Technology, EurOcean, an information centre to encourage communication and cooperation between European organisationsECORD, the European Consortium for maximizing European countries’ participation in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and providing the program with drilling platforms fit to individual missionsEuropean Union 6th Framework Programme support for Transnational Access and Integrating Activities (e.g. BONUS, ECORD, MARBEF, Marine Genomics, CARBOCEAN, HERMES, IPY-CARE)

OVERARCHING CO-ORDINATION STRUCTURE ( ESFRI - ESF/MB - GOOS - EFARO - MS)

better co-ordinate and manage Europe’s diverse marine

research infrastructures. Advise on long-term marine research infrastructure

requirements and investments. facilitate access to existing marine research infrastructures. establish an interactive web-based information system to

provide access to information on Europe’s marine research infrastructures

Marine Research Infrastructure e-conference 26 till 30 April 2004

ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

Bottom up approach: what does the Marine ScientificCommunity expects.

Rationalisation of information. Optimise by integration of information and avoid duplication.

New technologies: What could be expected from new technologies + their needs for information, data management and products & services?

189 registered participant 57 contributions 35 countries (21 EU member states)

RESULTS from the MRI e-conference

ANSWER to the initial question : Yes, we are on the right track.

• The new funding instruments are very suitable to meet MRI requirements, since all of them are based on an integrating approach. They can play a key role in the design, standardization and development of new MRI.

• Small research vessels are very important and specific infrastructure facilities in marine science. They could be operated by preference at a regional scale.

Criteria to meet a number of standards need to be developed at a pan-EU scale.

• Coastal research stations can and should be revaluated.

• Issues related to long term monitoring (for coastal as well as for the deep ocean) should be dealt with: requirements for new technology, installation,

maintenance, long term financing, data management and exchange.

RESULTS from the MRI e-conference (cont.)

• Integration of MRI in the communication strategy towards education and the public at large is recommended.

• Human resources are part of the marine 'infrastructures'. Attracting young scientists in marine science is essential.

• Better management of information is required for: 1) sharing knowledge and experience efficiently; 2) developing scientific dialog across countries and continents.

• Integration of information, data and services revealed the need for a single platform, overarching the initiatives within the new instruments

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GLOBAL M&OSC EUROPEAN MARINE RESEARCH AREA

STRATEGY & SCIENCE PLAN

SHARING INTEGRATION &

INFORMATION DATA

AWARENESS

BUILDING

STAKEHOLDERS

IP STREP CA SSA

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RV BELGICA (B)

RV LUCTOR (NL)

RV ZEELEEUW (B)

cruises 2003

cruises 2004 32

38

Cruise programmes

Contact PI

Cruise track

Information on the PI

and the research group

and his/her publications

Technology• Database

– MS SQL Server• Maps

– SVG (zooming and panning)– Javascript

• make line and symbol size independent of zoom factor

• make map interactive• ‘create’ point for stations

• PHPpull everything together (interrogate DBs, generate SVG and Javascript)

Technology: way to go

Distributed databases!?• DiGIR: Distributed Generic Information Retrieval• Every ship operator maintains own database, makes limited number of fields available in common standard format• Operates over WWW, makes use of XMLUsed by biological community: GBIF, OBIS

Schematic representation of DiGIR principles

Schema stolen from Stan Blum, Taxonomic Databases Working Group

Co-operation with Development Countries

IOC:TEMA& OSP

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GLOBAL M&OSC EUROPEAN MARINE RESEARCH AREA

STRATEGY & SCIENCE PLAN

SHARING INTEGRATION &

INFORMATION DATA

AWARENESS

BUILDING

STAKEHOLDERS

IP STREP CA SSA

ERA-NET REGIONAL

ERA-NET PAN-EUROPEAN

NoE THEMATIC

NoE PAN-EUROPEAN

ERA-NET REGIONAL

POLICY &SCIENCE

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SCIENCE &POLICY

Conclusions and Recommendations For FP7 and beyond.

• The FP6 instruments – after stabilisation - are very suitable for the design, evolving standardisation and development of MRI.

• Criteria to meet a number of technical standards for small Research Vesselsneed to be developed at a pan-European scale.

• Coastal stations should be revaluated

• Integration of MRI in the communication strategy towards education and the public at large is strongly recommended.

• Human resources are part of the marine 'infrastructures'. Attracting young scientists in marine science is essential.

Better management of information is required for: 1) sharing knowledge and experience efficiently; 2) developing scientific dialogue across countries and continents.

• Integration of information, data and services revealed the need for a single platform, overarching the initiatives within the new instruments

Special thanks to:

Jan Mees, Laurent d’Ozouville, Edward Vanden Berghe

Ward Appeltans (MRI e-conference board manager)

and the participants of the MRI e-conference for their valuable contributions

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION