Download Highlight on Research Infrastructures supporting Marine and/or

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Directorate B - Innovation Union and European Research Area
B.4 - Research infrastructure
EU RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES POLICY
Highlight on Research Infrastructures supporting Marine and/or Arctic Research
THE OVERALL EU PICTURE
The individual EU Member States remain the main contributors to the setting up, the
development and operation of European research infrastructures (RI) including those of panEuropean and global interest. However a strong cooperation amongst them, with the
leveraging support of the EU1, is essential to develop a common vision and synergies.
In particular, the EU must address collectively the complexity and cost of the design and
development of new world class research infrastructures, promote open access to all
researchers, avoid duplication of efforts, trigger the exchange of best practice, develop
interoperability of facilities and resources. Furthermore the EU must help pooling resources
so that it can also develop and operate research infrastructures globally.
In this context, ESFRI2, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, is a
strategic instrument to develop the scientific integration of Europe and to strengthen its
international outreach. ESFRI's delegates are nominated by the Research Ministers of the
Member and Associate Countries, and include a representative of the European Commission.
ESFRI supports a coherent and strategy-led approach to policy-making on research
infrastructures in Europe, and facilitates multilateral initiatives leading to the better use and
development of research infrastructures, at EU and international level. A major outcome
was a first roadmap in 2006 and its successive updates. ESFRI's mandate has been expanded
by the Council of the EU in December 2012.
The ESFRI Roadmap identifies new Research Infrastructures of pan-European interest
addressing the long term needs of the European research communities, in all scientific areas,
regardless of possible location. To help their implementation, a new legal framework for a
European Research Infrastructure Consortium - ERIC has been created. In parallel, the
European Commission encouraged the development of national roadmap and the link to
ESFRI. As of today, 24 national roadmaps have been published in Europe and 6 further ones
are under preparation.
Europe is also involved in international fora where research infrastructures of global interest
are discussed. In June 2013 the G8 science ministers approved a statement3 which proposes
to the G8 for consideration international issues that need global cooperation: global
challenges, global research infrastructure, open scientific research data, and increasing
1
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/index_en.cfm?pg=esfri
3
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206801/G8_Science_Meeting_Statemen
t_12_June_2013.pdf
2
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
access to the results of scientific research. This statement recognises the work of the G8+06
Group of Senior Officials (GSO) to explore cooperation on Global RIs and report on its
progress in 2015. For some of the RIs, other international fora are of specific interest and,
when appropriate, the European Commission is actively engaged e.g. in GEO, the Group of
Earth Observation.
MAPPING OF EU SUPPORT TO RIs (supporting Arctic and/or Marine research)
To support its policy on RIs, the EU has developed and funded specific actions. Overall,
Research Infrastructures actions had a budget of €1.7 billion under FP7. This figure has been
increased to €2.3 billion in Horizon 2020 (including e-Infrastructures).
See in annex 1 a list of relevant FP7 RI projects (including e-Infrastructures) and in annex 2
short abstracts.
a) FP7 support to the integration of (national) RIs supporting marine and/or Arctic research.
These projects, known as ‘Integrating Activities” combine three mandatory activities:
- networking (among facilities and with all relevant stakeholders including European and
global initiatives; from very operational issues to policy driven activities),
- transnational / virtual access (for a wider access by the scientific community) and
- joint research (for improving the services offered by the infrastructures).
Marine (incl. Arctic)
About 70 million euros EU contribution (including 20 million euros for free open
transnational access and online scientific services) helped to the integration of the following
key infrastructures: research vessels (EUROFLEETS and EUROFLEETS2), coastal observatories
(JERICO), open ocean observatories (FixO3), mesocosm facilities (MESOAQUA), marine data
centres (SeaDatanet and SeaDataNet2), marine biological resource centres (ASSEMBLE),
aquaculture infrastructures (AQUAEXCEL), hydraulics facilities (HYDRALAB IV) and marine
renewable energy facilities (MARINET). In particular, more than 260 individual facilities and
data centres were offered for free transnational access (and free online services) via only 9
single entry points, in particular to researchers not having access to similar facilities in their
own country.
In the area of data management and e-infrastructures, support was given to SeaDataNet, a
Pan-European distributed infrastructure for marine data management that expanded under
FP7 (SeaDataNet II and Geo-Seas). It enables the data centres to interact as a virtual data
centre, able to deliver integrated data, meta-data and products of controlled quality through
a unique portal. The cooperation is currently expanded to the USA and Australia (ODIP
coordination action). A complementary initiative is the Data e-Infrastructure Initiative for
Fisheries Management and Conservation of Marine Living Resources (iMARINE).
Arctic (terrestrial stations)
The “International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic”
(INTERACT) received 7.3 million euros EU contribution including for offering transnational
access to Arctic terrestrial stations. It is also involving third countries (Canada, Russia, USA)
as well as Greenland and Faroe Islands.
2
In addition, several networks of RIs for atmospheric research with an Arctic component
received FP7 support: Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Network
(ACTRIS), EU Facility for Airborne Research in Environmental & Geoscience (EUFAR),
Integrated non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Observation System (InGOS).
All these infrastructures are working on interoperability among them and with main
European and international initiatives (such as COPERNICUS and GEOSS).
b) FP7 support to new pan-European RIs at different stages of their development.
All support but design studies (fully bottom-up) targeted infrastructures identified by ESFRI.
Marine (incl. Arctic)
This was done at the preparatory phase for those prioritised by ESFRI: such as the European
Multidisciplinary Sea Floor Observatory (EMSO), the European component of the global
ARGO (Euro-ARGO) and the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC). ICOS
(Carbon observation) and SIOS (Svalbard) can be mentioned here as well, because of their
marine component. The implementation phase was supported as well by promoting
interoperable or common ICT solutions (ENVRI) and with US counterparts (COOPEUS). In
addition, a design study was undertaken to set up the concept of a sustainable panEuropean glider infrastructure (GROOM) and how this infrastructure should integrate in the
current RI landscape.
As an outcome of the preparatory phase, several ESFRI projects are now moving to a single
pan-European governance. In particular Euro Argo has completed all necessary steps and
should be implemented as an ERIC very soon. Similarly EMSO has now applied (step 1) to
become an ERIC.
Arctic (mainly terrestrial/atmospheric)
Several projects identified by ESFRI have received support for their preparatory phase:
Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS) aims to integrate the existing
national and international stations on Svalbard in an overarching structure and create a
common knowledge centre. It is also involving third countries (China, Japan, Russia, South
Korea). In addition, the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) and The next
Generation European Incoherent Scatter Radar System (EISCAT_3D) are also present in the
Arctic. A last initiative can be mentioned: The ARISE design study is developing the concept
of a new infrastructure by integrating several station networks for a 3D image of the
dynamic of the atmosphere and this includes the Arctic.
c) Horizon 2020 (Excellent Science section)
Continued support is planned under Horizon 2020 and its “Excellence Science” pillar,
building on the former FP7 actions.
In particular additional support will be provided for the implementation of new panEuropean infrastructures identified by ESFRI, either to clusters around ESFRI projects or to
individual ESFRI projects (following further prioritisation by ESFRI, still ongoing).
3
As regards the integration of national RIs, the Work Programme 2014-2015 is calling the
following areas for RIs, which specifically address marine and/or Arctic research or have a
significant relevant component:
-
Research infrastructures for ocean drilling.
Aerosol, clouds, and trace gases research infrastructure.
Research infrastructures for environmental hydraulic research.
Research infrastructures for terrestrial research in the Arctic.
Research Infrastructures for integrated and sustained coastal observation.
Research infrastructures in aquaculture.
Finally, coordination and support actions to international cooperation for research
infrastructures are also foreseen.
The Work Programme 2014-2015 is calling for example an action to “Support multi-lateral
cooperation on research infrastructures in one or several of the following areas: Arctic
research, marine science, biodiversity, food research and medicine. Particular emphasis will
be made on cooperation with USA, Canada (including for implementing the Transatlantic
Research Alliance, launched by the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation) and
Russia, without excluding other relevant countries such as Australia and New Zealand.”
In parallel to Research Infrastructures, specific actions supporting the Transatlantic Research
Alliance and, at a global scale, GEOSS, are foreseen under the Societal Challenges sections, in
the 2014-2015 Work Programme as well.
MAPPING OF NATIONAL RI ACTIVITIES
In addition to the development and operation of national and pan-European research
infrastructures, EU Member States and associated countries are involved in efforts to
coordinate national research programmes (with EU support “ERANET”) and in pooling
resources around specific societal challenges (Joint Programming Initiatives, with currently
EU support as well).
The ERANET FP7 Seas-Era (www.seas-era.eu), has performed a mapping of national RIs and
related initiatives, concluded by a public report: “D 4.1.1 Marine Research Infrastructures
updated overview, European integration and vision of the future”
To set-up its own priorities, JPI Oceans4 has undertaken an in-depth mapping exercise of
national RIs and related initiatives. When appropriate, (part of) the outcome might be made
public. JPI Climate5 will also have a role in shaping the RIs landscape, in particular in the
Arctic.
In parallel, the ARICE6 initiative on coordinated use of icebreakers led by Germany and
Sweden is developing. It has support from EUROFLEETS2 project (work package “Flagship
initiative for polar access”).
4
www.jpi-oceans.eu
www.jpi-climate.eu
6
http://arcticobservingsummit.civicrm.ca/sites/arcticobservingsummit.civicrm.ca/files/arctic_research_icebreak_cooperati
on_arice_beyond.pdf
5
4
IDENTIFYING SYNERGIES ON RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES IN A TRANSATLANTIC
PERSPECTIVE
Relevant activities are already taking place under on-going FP7 projects either involving
beneficiaries from CANADA and USA (INTERACT), or complemented, when possible, by
synchronised NSF support (COOPEUS), or targeting specific new RIs for enhanced
international cooperation (SIDERI/Euro Argo, CREATIVE-B/Lifewatch). Furthermore almost
all FP7 Integrating Activities include a specific networking activity dedicated to international
cooperation, typically aiming at further interoperability or harmonization, and promoting
open access to data (GEO data sharing principles).
For example, a gap analysis and preliminary ideas for interoperability of OOI-EMSO data
systems and sharing data policy is being proposed under the COOPEUS7 project. The FixO3
project has several work packages dedicated to harmonization, interoperability (procedures,
quality control, data management etc.).
In addition, a Symposium on Marine and Arctic Research Infrastructures took place in Rome
in September: it was co-organised, under the ERACAN II auspices, by the Canadian
Foundation for Innovation and the European Commission. The Symposium gathered about
50 experts from CANADA, EU and USA —researchers, infrastructure managers and funding
agency officials— to explore and identify ways of improving scientific collaboration in the
use of research infrastructure, exchange best practices, and develop specific
recommendations on how to get the most knowledge from extensive investments in Arctic
and marine research infrastructure. A report8 is available. While North-Atlantic collaboration
was highlighted, the Symposium acknowledged that for many infrastructures, and in
particular in the Arctic, a broader perspective is needed and existing international fora will
be used.
Last update: 20 February 2014
Contacts:
7
8
Agnes.Robin(at)ec.europa.eu
Anna-Maria.Johansson(at)ec.europa.eu
http://www.coopeus.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Gap-analysis-report-Ocean-Observations-prepared-by-INGV.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/Rome Symposium Final Report.pdf
5
ANNEX 1 – LIST OF FP7 RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECTS (RIs supporting marine
and/or Arctic research)
Support to new ESFRI infrastructures (preparatory phase, international cooperation,
implementation) and support to new concepts (design studies)
EU Duration
End date Title - Web site - RI factsheet/brochure
(€M) (months)
Acronym
* Type of FP7 support
COPAL
Preparatory Phase
A
(ESFRI)
1,0
48
31/10/2011
EISCAT_3D_2
A
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
4,5
48
30/09/2014
EMBRC
M
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
3,9
48
31/01/2014
EMSO
M
3,9
54
31/09/2012
4,5
48
31/10/2014
EPOS
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
Preparatory Phase
A
(ESFRI)
ERICON-AB
M Preparatory Phase
4,5
51
31/05/2012
EURO ARGO
M
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
3,9
42
30/06/2011
IAGOS-ERI
A
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
3,3
60
31/08/2013
ICOS
M
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
4,3
60
31/03/2013
LIFEWATCH
M
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
5,0
36
31/01/2011
SIOS
M
Preparatory Phase
(ESFRI)
4,0
36
30/09/2013
COOPEUS
M
International coop.
(ESFRI)
2,0
36
31/08/2015
CREATIVE-B
M
International coop.
(ESFRI)
0,7
36
30/09/2014
SIDERI
M
International coop.
(ESFRI)
0,9
48
30/11/2013
ENVRI
M
Implementation
(ESFRI)
3,7
36
31/10/2014
ARISE
A Design studies
4,4
36
GROOM
M Design studies
3,5
36
COmmunity heavy-PAyload Long endurance Instrumented
Aircraft for Tropospheric Research in Environmental and GeoSciences
www.eufar.net/copal
EISCAT_3D: A European three-dimensional imaging radar for
atmospheric and geospace research (Preparatory Phase)
www.eiscat.se
EMBRC preparatory phase (European Marine Biological
Resource Centre)
www.embrc.eu
European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observation
www.emso-eu.org
European Plate Observing System
www.epos-eu.org
The European Polar Research Icebreaker Consortium AURORA
BOREALIS
www.eri-aurora-borealis.eu
Global Ocean Observing Infrastructure
www.euro-argo.eu
In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System - European
Research Infrastructure
www.iagos.org
Integrated Carbon Observation System
www.icos-infrastructure.eu
Life Watch (Research Infrastructures Network for Research in
Biodiversity)
www.lifewatch.eu
Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System Preparatory Phase
www.sios-svalbard.org
Strengthening the cooperation between the US and the EU in
the field of environmental research infrastructures
www.coopeus.eu
Coordination of Research e-Infrastructures Activities Toward an
International Virtual Environment for Biodiversity
http://creative-b.eu/
Strengthening International Dimension of Euro-Argo
Research Infrastructure
www.euro-argo.eu
Common Operations of Environmental Research Infrastructures
http://envri.eu/
Atmospheric dynamics InfraStructure in Europe
http://arise-project.eu/
31/12/2014
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/fp7_factsht_arise
_310113.pdf
Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation and Management
www.groom-fp7.eu
30/09/2014
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/fp7_factsht_groo
m.pdf
* Blue/M: RIs supporting marine (incl. Arctic) research;
* Purple/A: RIs supporting Arctic research (without marine component).
6
Integrating Activities (with transnational/virtual access activities)
Acronym
* Type of FP7 support
EU Duration
End date Title - Web site - RI factsheet/brochure
(€M) (months)
ACTRIS
A Integrating Activities
7,8
48
31/03/2015
AQUAEXCEL
M Integrating Activities
9,2
48
28/02/2015
ASSEMBLE
M Integrating Activities
8,7
48
28/02/2013
EUFAR
A Integrating Activities
8,0
60
30/09/2013
EUFAR2
A Integrating Activities
6,0
48
31/01/2018
EUROFLEETS
M Integrating Activities
7,2
48
31/08/2013
EUROFLEETS 2 M Integrating Activities
9,0
48
28/02/2017
FixO3
M Integrating Activities
7,0
48
31/08/2017
HYDRALAB IV
M Integrating Activities
8,5
48
30/09/2014
INGOS
A Integrating Activities
8,0
48
30/09/2015
INTERACT
A Integrating Activities
7,3
48
31/12/2014
JERICO
M Integrating Activities
6,5
48
30/04/2015
MARINET
M Integrating Activities
9,0
48
31/03/2015
MESOAQUA
M Integrating Activities
3,5
48
31/12/2012
Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure
Network
www.actris.net
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/actris.pdf
AQUAculture infrastructures for EXCELLence in European Fish
research
www.aquaexcel.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/aquaexcel.pdf
Association of European Marine Biological Laboratories
www.assemblemarine.org
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/assemble.pdf
EUROPEAN FACILITY FOR AIRBORNE RESEARCH IN
ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOSCIENCE
www.eufar.net
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/eufar_en.pdf
European Facility for Airborne Research in Environmental and
Geo-sciences
www.eufar.net
TOWARDS AN ALLIANCE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH
FLEETS
www.eurofleets.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/eurofleets.pdf
New operational steps towards an alliance of European research
fleets
www.eurofleets.eu
Fixed Point Open Ocean Observatories Network
www.fixo3.eu
HYDRALAB IV More than water; dealing with the complex
interaction of water with environmental elements,
sediment, structures and ice
www.hydralab.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/hydralabiv.pdf
Integrated non-CO2 Greenhouse gas Observation System
www.ingos-infrastructure.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/ingos.pdf
International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring
in the Arctic
www.eu-interact.org
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/interact.pdf
TOWARDS A JOINT EUROPEAN RESEARCH
INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK FOR COASTAL
OBSERVATORIES
www.jerico-fp7.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/jerico.pdf
Marine Renewables Infrastructure Network for Emerging
Energy Technologies
www.fp7-marinet.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/marinet.pdf
Network of leading MESOcosm facilities to advance the studies
of future AQUAtic ecosystems from the Arctic to the
Mediterranean
http://mesoaqua.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/mesoaqua.pdf
SEADATANET II M Integrating Activities
6,0
48
SeaDataNet II: Pan-European infrastructure for ocean and
marine data management
30/09/2015
www.seadatanet.org
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/seadatanetII.pdf
UP-GRADE BSSCENE
3,4
48
UP-GRADE BLACK SEA SCIENTIFIC NETWORK
31/12/2011 www.blackseascene.net
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/pdf/upgrade.pdf
M Integrating Activities
7
e-Infrastructures (ICT based e-infrastructures, such as data and computing systems and
communication networks)
EU Duration
End date Title - Web site - RI factsheet/brochure
(€M) (months)
Acronym
* Type of FP7 support
EARTHSERVER
M e-Infrastructure
4,0
36
31/08/2014
GENESI-DEC
M e-Infrastructure
2,1
29
30/09/2012
GEO-SEAS
M e-Infrastructure
4,9
45
30/01/2013
iMARINE
M e-Infrastructure
5,0
30
30/04/2014
ODIP
M e-Infrastructure
0,7
36
30/11/2015
8
European Scalable Earth Science Service Environment
www.earthserver.eu
Ground European Network for Earth Science Interoperations Digital Earth Community
www.genesi-dec.eu
Pan-European infrastructure for management of marine and
ocean geological and geophysical data
www.geo-seas.eu
Data e-Infrastructure Initiative for Fisheries Management and
Conservation of Marine Living Resources
www.i-marine.eu
Establishing and operating an Ocean Data Interoperability
Platform
www.odip.eu
ANNEX 2 –ABSTRACTS OF FP7 RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECTS (RIs supporting
marine and/or Arctic research)
(by alphabetic order)
Acronym
Abstract
ACTRIS
Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure Network
It integrates key ground-based stations for: standardizing long-term observational data
relevant to climate and air quality research; supporting transnational access to large
infrastructures and to high quality information and services to the user communities;
developing new integration tools for the use of atmospheric techniques at ground-based
stations, in particular for the validation/integration of satellite sensors and for the
improvement of global and regional-scale climate and air quality models.
AQUAEXCEL
AQUAculture infrastructures for EXCELLence in European Fish research
The project integrates the highest class aquaculture research facilities in Europe. It will
cover the entire range of production systems (recirculation, flow-through, cage, hatchery
and pond systems), environments (freshwater and marine, cold and warm water), scales
(small, medium and industrial scale), fish species (salmon, trout, sea bass, sea bream,
cod, carp, etc.), and fields of expertise (nutrition, physiology, health and welfare,
genetics, monitoring and management technologies and engineering).
ARISE
Atmospheric dynamics InfraStructure in Europe
ARISE proposes to design a new infrastructure that integrates different station networks
in order to provide a new “3D” image of the atmosphere from the ground to the
mesosphere with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. The infrastructure extends
across Europe and outlying regions, including polar and equatorial regions. The expected
benefits of ARISE are two-fold. First, the measurements will allow a better description of
the atmosphere state, leading to an improved accuracy in short and medium range
weather forecasts. Second, the measurements will be used to improve the simulation of
middle atmosphere climate and its tropospheric impact. The benefits also include civil
applications related to monitoring of natural hazards as volcanoes.
ASSEMBLE
Association of European Marine Biological Laboratories
The main objectives of ASSEMBLE are to:
- enhance transnational access to the existing key infrastructures for marine biology and
ecology in Europe
- improve these infrastructures with respect to the provision of marine model organism
- enhance complementarity and interoperability between these infrastructures
- eventually, lay the plans to build a European Marine Resources Centre, with the aim of
giving the European scientific community with integrated access to a representative set
of coastal environments and model organisms.
COOPEUS
Strengthening the cooperation between the US and the EU in the field of
environmental research infrastructures
This proposal brings together Europe’s major environmental research infrastructure
projects, i.e. EISCAT, EPOS, LifeWATCH, EMSO, and ICOS, with their US counterparts,
the NSF funded projects AMISR, EARTHSCOPE, DataONE, OOI and NEON. Their
synergic interlinking will stimulate a truly global integration based on the efficient access
to and the open sharing of data and information produced by the environmental research
infrastructures. Links will be sought to running projects like ENVRI (EU) or EARTHCUBE
(US) who are developing relevant architectures. The COOPEUS project will serve as a
test-bed for new standards and methods. Interoperability concept will be extended to
“inter-workability” to include, beyond data, the scientific tools used for analyzing the data
and to allow the exchange of concepts between individual scientists. The main outcome
will be the development of MoUs shaping future cooperation strategies between the
research infrastructures.
9
Acronym
Abstract
COPAL
COmmunity heavy-PAyload Long endurance Instrumented Aircraft for
Tropospheric Research in Environmental and Geo-Sciences
COPAL investigated the objective of providing the European scientific community with an
unique research aircraft platform, capable of reaching and operating in any remote area
in the world and offering a heavy-payload for integration of large panoply of instruments
for research in environmental and Geo-sciences. The aim is to offer an unprecedented
opportunity to countries that are not yet operating research aircraft to develop expertise
in airborne measurements and participate to international multidisciplinary experiments.
Due to the economic context, this initiative is not developing in the short-term, further
efforts focusing on existing fleet (EUFAR2).
CREATIVE-B
Coordination of Research e-Infrastructures Activities Toward an International
Virtual Environment for Biodiversity
This project will support interaction between the LifeWatch ESFRI Research
Infrastructure with RI on biodiversity and ecosystems research in other parts of the world.
The first objective is to define a road map for interoperability on technological level, on
governance level and on interrelation with the scientific communities using the RIs. The
project will be a catalyst for worldwide collaboration in this field by supporting and
initiating coordination activities of these RIs. The greater objective of this collaboration is
to serve the goals of GEOSS.
European Scalable Earth Science Service Environment
The project establishes open access and ad-hoc analytics on extreme-size Earth Science
data, (Big Earth Data Analytics) based on and extending a leading Array Database
technology. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in 6 lighthouse applications,
EARTHSERVER
including Oceanography that involves marine model runs and in-situ data. The Ocean
Data Service is developed by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and is intended to provide
an exemplar portal, demonstrate large-scale EO data services for the Ocean Science
community and introduce new capabilities from the use of WCPS queries.
EISCAT_3D_2
EISCAT_3D: A European three-dimensional imaging radar for atmospheric and
geospace research (Preparatory Phase)
EISCAT_3D is a new 3D imaging radar for high-latitude atmosphere and geo-space
studies. It will measure from the upper stratosphere to the magnetosphere and beyond,
contributing to the basic, environmental and applied science for the use of space by
contemporary society. The current project will enable the resolution of the remaining
legal, financial and technical questions which must be addressed before EISCAT_3D can
be constructed.
EMBRC
EMBRC preparatory phase (European Marine Biological Resource Centre)
The EMBRC infrastructure will be planned to provide access to model marine organisms
and related genomic resources in Europe. The infrastructure will build on existing marine
biological institutes and research centres which will be complemented with innovative
components. It will promote access for both research and training. The project will
address all key issues (i.e. technical, legal, governance, and financial) necessary to
move towards the implementation of this new research infrastructure.
EMSO
European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observation
The main objective of the EMSO-Preparatory Phase was to establish the legal and
governance framework for the infrastructure serving scientists and other stakeholders in
Europe and outside Europe for long-term deep water observation and investigation. This
framework will enable the deployment of the infrastructure and its long-term
management. Moreover, it will promote the catalytic process and synergic effort at EU
and national levels, coordinating and harmonising all available resources. A panEuropean Core Legal Entity has been defined and will be founded as an ERIC.
10
Acronym
Abstract
ENVRI
Common Operations of Environmental Research Infrastructures
The ENVRI project gathers seven ESFRI Environment projects (the others are
represented in the advisory board) to develop, with the support from ICT experts,
common data and software components and services for their facilities. The results will
speed up the construction of these infrastructures and will allow interoperability among
them. Common challenges faced by the ENVRI infrastructures include data capture from
distributed sensors, metadata standardisation, management of high volume data,
workflow execution and data visualisation. The common standards, deployable services
and tools developed by ENVRI will be adopted by each infrastructure as it progresses
through its construction phase. The project will be based on a common reference model
created by capturing the semantic resources of the ESFRI infrastructures.
EPOS
European Plate Observing System
To understand the complex Earth System requires an integrated observational strategy
and infrastructure to record key diagnostic features of its dynamics. Accordingly, this
infrastructure must include geographically distributed and multidisciplinary monitoring
instruments and observations. The European Plate Observing System (EPOS) will meet
this challenge. The proposed RI (EPOS) will create a single sustainable, permanent and
distributed infrastructure, integrating land-based geophysical monitoring networks, local
observatories (including permanent in-situ and volcano observatories) and experimental
laboratories in Europe. EPOS will give open access to geophysical and geological data
and modelling tools, enabling a step change in multidisciplinary scientific research into
different fields, including seismic and volcanic hazards, environmental changes as well
as energy and long-term sustainability. This will result in benefits to society.
ERICON-AB
The European Polar Research Icebreaker Consortium AURORA BOREALIS
The ERICON-AB project investigated the strategic, legal, financial and organisational
frameworks required from national governments to commit financial resources to the
construction and running of the European Polar Research Icebreaker AURORA
BOREALIS. The combination of an icebreaker, drilling ship and multi-purpose research
vessel – for use in polar regions as well as in the open sea in all seasons – required also
the development of new technical concepts. Due to the economic context, no consortium
is supporting this initiative and it has been withdrawn in 2010 from the ESFRI roadmap.
EUFAR
European Facility for Airborne Research in Environmental and Geo-sciences
EUFAR is the Integrating Activity for airborne research in Geo-science. It will integrate
the airborne community, to ensure that researchers may have access to the most suited
infrastructure they need, irrespective of the location of the infrastructure. The EUFAR
consortium comprises 35 legal entities, out of which 15 are operators of airborne
facilities, and 20 experts in airborne research.
EUFAR2
European Facility for Airborne Research in Environmental and Geo-sciences
EUFAR aims at providing researchers with Open Access to the airborne facilities the
most suited to their needs. EUFAR thus allocates Transnational Access to 21
installations, develops a culture of co-operation between scientists and operators, and
organizes training courses to attract young scientists to airborne research. To improve
the quality of the service, EUFAR supports the experts on airborne measurements,
constitutes a central data base and develops standards and protocols for this data base
to be fully interoperable with Earth observation data bases. EUFAR supports two Joint
Research Activities dedicated to (i) the development of methodologies and tools for the
integrated use of airborne hyperspectral imaging data and airborne laser scanning data
and (ii) the development of robust calibration systems for the core gas-phase chemical
measurements currently made on-board research aircraft.
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Acronym
Abstract
EURO ARGO
Global Ocean Observing Infrastructure
The Euro-Argo infrastructure will be a major component of the Argo global in situ ocean
observatory. The Argo network is a global array of autonomous instruments measuring
temperature and salinity over the upper 2000 m of the ocean. Argo is an indispensable
component of the Global Ocean Observing System required to understand and monitor
the role of the ocean in the Earth’s climate system. Argo must be considered in its
ensemble: not only the instruments, but also the logistics necessary for their preparation
and deployments, field operations, the associated data streams and data centres. EuroArgo will develop and progressively consolidate the European component of the global
network. Specific European interest also requires a somewhat increased sampling in
regional seas.
EUROFLEETS
TOWARDS AN ALLIANCE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH FLEETS
By bringing together marine research fleet operators and users, EUROFLEETS will
enhance coordination between fleets and promote the cost-effective use of their facilities
with the scope of supporting the efficient provision of necessary research services for
monitoring and sustainable management of regional seas and oceans. This will also give
access to all European scientists to a large variety of vessels and, in turn, give support to
environmental and biodiversity protection and climate change research. EUROFLEETS
will also benefit the sustainable exploitation of marine resources and provide for more
education and training.
New operational steps towards an alliance of European research fleets
EUROFLEETS2 is the continuation and enhancement of EUROFLEETS1, with the aim of
developing a new pan-European distributed infrastructure with common strategic vision
and coordinated access to European research vessels and marine equipment.
EUROFLEETS2 will undertake specific actions that aim to consolidate fleets’
organization, methodology and tools and through operational experimental tests (like
virtual fleets) leading to fully interoperable and cost effective European research fleet.
EUROFLEETS 2 objectives are: (a) Promotion of integration of Global/Ocean and
EUROFLEETS 2
Regional RVs.; (b) Completion of the strategic vision of the European fleets with a shared
polar component; (c) Promotion of exchanges of mobile equipment on board European
RVs to foster operational interoperability through Transnational Access; (d) Enhancing
the impact of research fleets on innovation by fostering the involvement of industry in
specific activities, both as end user; (e) Launching of new training actions including a pilot
floating university and new technological innovations; (f) Making an important step
towards a long term sustainable and financially autonomous group of European RVs
with a view to applying for an insertion into the ESFRI roadmap.
FixO3
Fixed Point Open Ocean Observatories Network
The Fixed point Open Ocean Observatory network (FixO3) seeks to integrate European
open ocean fixed point observatories and to improve access to these key installations for
the broader community. These will provide multidisciplinary observations in all parts of
the oceans from the air-sea interface to the deep seafloor. It combines:
1. Coordination activities to integrate and harmonise the current procedures and
processes. Strong links will be fostered with the wider community across academia,
industry, policy and the general public through outreach, knowledge exchange and
training.
2. Support actions to offer a) access to observatory infrastructures to those who do not
have such access, and b) free and open data services and products.
3. Joint research activities to innovate and enhance the current capability for
multidisciplinary in situ ocean observation.
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Acronym
Abstract
GENESI-DEC
Ground European Network for Earth Science Interoperations - Digital Earth
Community
GENESI-DEC contributed to the vision of Digital Earth by enabling and supporting the
interconnection and integration of the relevant digital and human knowledge across
relevant the relevant Digital Earth Communities. The project involved key partners of
ESFRI projects and collaborates with key actors of Digital Earth and Earth Science
initiatives, including the International Society of Digital Earth and GEO-GEOSS. It
designed and implemented several use cases including the Seafloor and Ocean
Observation Community, which developed the Surface and Deep Sea Visualization Tool
that allows to discover, localise and visualize deep sea data provided by EMSO and
surface in situ data from Geo-Seas/SeaDataNet.
GEO-SEAS
Pan-European infrastructure for management of marine and ocean geological and
geophysical data
Geo-Seas expanded the existing SeaDataNet marine and ocean data management
infrastructure to handle marine geological and geophysical data, data products and
services, creating a joint infrastructure covering both oceanographic and marine geoscientific data. Data from 26 marine geological and geophysical data centres, located in
17 European maritime countries, have been delivered directly to the Geo-Seas portal
which includes now in excess 130,000 metadata records and corresponding data sets.
GROOM
Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation and Management
The project aims at the design of a new European research infrastructure to maintain and
operate a European fleet of remotely controlled underwater gliders, in coordination with
other European and international initiatives. Complementary to other ocean observing
systems, this new infrastructure will be beneficial for both academic oceanographic
research and operational oceanography systems.
HYDRALAB IV
HYDRALAB IV More than water; dealing with the complex interaction of water with
environmental elements, sediment, structures and ice
HYDRALAB aims at coordinating the development of and providing access to unique and
costly hydraulic and ice engineering research infrastructures. Research concerned deals
with complex questions regarding the interaction of water with environmental elements,
sediment, structures and ice. It will offer access to 17 facilities.
IAGOS-ERI
In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System - European Research
Infrastructure
IAGOS-ERI establishes a sustainable distributed infrastructure for global observations of
atmospheric composition from a large fleet of in-service aircraft. This will be achieved by
installing autonomous instrument packages aboard initially 10-20 longrange aircraft of
internationally operating airlines. IAGOS-ERI will provide high quality in-situ observations
of greenhouse gases and reactive gases, aerosol, and cloud particles in the tropopause
region, which is not adequately resolved by remote sensing from space and, on the other
hand is one of the most sensitive regions for climate change. At the same time, IAGOSERI will provide detailed vertical profiles in the troposphere, which are of paramount
importance for predicting changes in local and regional air quality and its causes.
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Acronym
Abstract
ICOS
Integrated Carbon Observation System
The goal of the ICOS Preparatory Phase is to initiate across Europe and adjacent
regions a network for standardized long-term high precision monitoring of atmospheric
greenhouse gas concentrations and ecosystem fluxes and essential carbon cycling
variables. These measurements will allow daily determination of sources and sinks at
scales down to about 100 km2, and will be a basis for understanding the carbon
exchange processes between the atmosphere, the terrestrial surface and the ocean.
The list of variables covered in ICOS is that of GEOSS (Global Earth Observation
System of Systems) recommended to ‘support the development of observational
capabilities for Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) such as CO2, CH4 and other
greenhouse gases’ (10-years GEOSS Implementation Plan, page 64-65). Further, ICOS
contributes to the GEOSS aims by implementing in Europe an Integrated Global
Observing Strategy for Atmospheric Chemistry Observations (IGACO) and for Global
Carbon Cycle Observations (IGCO).
iMARINE
Data e-Infrastructure Initiative for Fisheries Management and Conservation of
Marine Living Resources
iMarine established a data infrastructure to support the Ecosystem Approach to fisheries
management and conservation of marine living resources. iMarine facilitates open
access and the sharing of a multitude of data, collaborative analysis, processing and
mining processing, as well as the publication and dissemination of newly generated
knowledge. The project is based on the infrastructure of the predecessor FP7 project
D4Science, and bridges a number of information systems such as the Catalogue of Life,
the FAO Geospatial Data Catalogue, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the
Integrated Taxonomic Information System, the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera, the Marine Species Distribution Infrastructure, the Ocean Biogeographic
Information System (OBIS), the World Register of Marine Species. The project developed
also a mobile application, called AppliFish, which includes over 550 marine species.
INGOS
Integrated non-CO2 Greenhouse gas Observation System
InGOS will support and integrate the observing capacity of non-CO2 greenhouse gases
(NCGHG: CH4, N2O, SF6, H2 and halocarbons) in Europe. The emissions of these
gases are very uncertain. InGOS aims to improve the existing European observation
system and provide the knowledge of the concentration levels of European and extraEuropean emissions of the NCGHGs. The data from the network will enable a better
understanding of the emissions of NCGHGs within the EU and show whether emission
reduction policies are effective.
INTERACT
International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic
INTERACT is a circum-arctic network of terrestrial field bases that aims to build capacity
for research and monitoring in the European Arctic and beyond. New communities of
researchers will be offered access to these infrastructures while local stakeholders as
well as major international organisations will interact with the infrastructures. Research
activities will also develop an efficient network of sensors to measure changing
environmental conditions and will improve data storage and accessibility.
JERICO
TOWARDS A JOINT EUROPEAN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK FOR
COASTAL OBSERVATORIES
It brings together the key European coastal observatories, enhancing their coordination
and promoting the cost-effective use of their facilities, in order to support the efficient
provision of essential research and monitoring networks. Access will be provided to data
and also to some of the in situ facilities. In addition research is planned on the design of
the observatories and automated measurements of new set of parameters including
biological ones.
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Acronym
Abstract
LIFEWATCH
Life Watch (Research Infrastructures Network for Research in Biodiversity)
The Life Watch e-Science and Technology Infrastructure for biodiversity data and
observatories will be a large-scale European research infrastructure bringing together:
- a system of marine, terrestrial and freshwater observatories;
- common access to a huge amount of interlinked, distributed data from databases and
monitoring sites;
- computational facilities in virtual laboratories with analytical and modelling tools;
- targeted user and training support and a programme for public services.
The biodiversity research infrastructure will open up new and exciting research
opportunities, and will help to enhance the understanding and sustainable management
of our natural environment.
MARINET
Marine Renewables Infrastructure Network for Emerging Energy Technologies
The aim of MaRINET is to integrate research infrastructures in the field of Offshore
Renewable Conversion Systems (wave energy, tidal stream converters as well as
offshore wind turbines for electrical generation) at all scales: small models through to
prototype scales from laboratory through to Open Sea tests. It will offer access of
researchers to 42 facilities from the 28 partners.
MESOAQUA
Network of leading MESOcosm facilities to advance the studies of future AQUAtic
ecosystems from the Arctic to the Mediterranean
In marine ecology there is an urgent need to understand the functioning of the lower part
of the pelagic food web, its response to and effect on climate change, its response to
pollution and environmental toxins, and its role in producing food for commercially
important species at higher trophic level. This requires access for European scientists to
tools allowing experimental approaches to near-natural pelagic systems. MESOAQUA
aims to:
- Offer European researchers access to a range of mesocosm facilities in contrasting
environments;
- Develop and test new technologies that allow access to off-shore environments Improve the services of the facilities by exchange of technology and experience;
- Facilitate better coordination of mesocosm research and promote the training of young
scientists in the use of experimental ecosystem research.
ODIP
Establishing and operating an Ocean Data Interoperability Platform
This Coordination includes all the major organisations engaged in ocean data
management in EU, US and Australia, and is supported by the IOC/IODE. The Ocean
Data Interoperability Platform will facilitate the effective sharing of data across scientific
domains and international boundaries, the dissemination of best practice and the transfer
of technology, and the development of prototypes to evaluate and test potential
standards and interoperability solutions.
SEADATANET
II
SeaDataNet II: Pan-European infrastructure for ocean and marine data
management
The project brings together National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs), and marine
information services of research institutes, from 35 states bordering the European seas.
It will upgrade the present SeaDataNet infrastructure by providing high quality access to
ocean and marine metadata, data and data products, by setting, adopting and promoting
common data management standards and by realising technical and semantic
interoperability with other relevant data management systems and initiatives.
SIDERI
Strengthening International Dimension of Euro-Argo Research Infrastructure
The objective of the project is to strengthen the links and integration of the Euro-Argo
European research infrastructure into the Argo International strategy of global ocean
observations, and to seek participation by, and to develop cooperation with, potential
participants in the European neighbouring areas which have a maritime interest.
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Acronym
Abstract
SIOS
Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System - Preparatory Phase
The main goal of the SIOS-PP project is to define, work out and decide on the formal
framework needed to establish and operate a geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research infrastructure covering all important elements of the coupled Earth
System in the Arctic. This covers aspects such as legal status, governance structure,
financial strategy, a data management and utilization plan, and an (on- and offshore)
logistics plan.
UP-GRADE BSSCENE
UP-GRADE BLACK SEA SCIENTIFIC NETWORK
UP-GRADE BS SCENE has multiple objectives: it is working to extend the BLACK SEA
SCENE research infrastructure with 19 marine environmental institutes/organisations
from the six Black Sea countries. In total, 51 partners are involved, of which 43 are
located in Black Sea countries. This should improve and harmonise the marine data
management practices in the region, and expand the coverage of the data infrastructure.
Furthermore, there should be enhanced exchange of scientific knowledge, and regional
cooperation of institutes for environmental problems and better protection, rehabilitation
and sustainable development of the Black Sea ecosystem.
The project also aims to implement the results of the joint research activities of the FP6
SeaDataNet project – specifically common communication standards and adapted
technologies to ensure the data centers interoperability.
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