EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The EU's Maritime Policy Blue Book, welcomed by the European Commission in December 2007, undertook to take steps towards a European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET) that would improve availability of high quality data. A consortium of companies and institutes (ATLIS, IEO, IFREMER, GSI, NERC-NOCS and SHOM) coordinated by the Dutch company MARIS has been awarded the contract to deliver the hydrography component of EMODNET

The consortium will deliver the necessary technology and coordinate the collection and integration of data to fulfil the EMODNET requirements. ATLIS is responsible for the technical infrastructure of EMODNET’s hydrography component. This is done by using the SENS components. With its state of the art internet technology HydroTeam provides access to the EMODNET database for all European member states. Both professional users (e.g. national Hydrographic Offices) and the general public in Europe will greatly benefit from this development.

Inspire
A number of measures have already been taken at EU level - the INSPIRE Directive obliges EU Member States to adopt measures for the sharing of data sets and services between its public authorities. These measures will enable the public authorities to gain access to the data and services, and to exchange and use it for the purposes of public tasks. The Environmental Information Directive requires them to release the data when asked, the Public Sector Information Directive facilitates the re-use of public data and the revised Data Collection Regulation has improved the availability of fisheries data. Marine data catalogues and quality procedures for measurement laboratories have been developed through successive EU research programmes.

Availability of data
In practice many of these data, collected largely by public institutions, are still fragmented, of uncertain quality and difficult to assemble into coherent pictures. HydroTeam’s technology is built with this in mind and provides all the functionality needed to overcome these problems.

EU legislation aiming to oblige governments to grant access to marine data and allow their re-use does not automatically apply to the large pools of data held by research institutions or other bodies with no formal role in government or public administration. The property rights of many data are unknown or restrictive in terms of re-use. Partnerships dissolve when projects end and contractual obligations to deliver cease.

Setting up a European marine observation and data network
Aware of these difficulties the Commission proposed a new European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET) in its Green Paper on maritime policy. Following an overwhelmingly positive response from stakeholders to its proposal, the European Commission, in its EU's Maritime Policy Blue Book, adopted in October 2007 and welcomed by the European Council in December 2007, undertook to take steps towards EMODNET in order to improve availability of high quality data.

Data assessment in 3D using HydroTeam technology (Fledermaus by IVS 3D)

Design principles
Basic design principles of EMODNET have been formulated by the Commission. These are

  • collect data once and use it many times
  • develop standards across disciplines as well as within them
  • process and validate data at different levels. Structures are already developing at national level but infrastructure at sea-basin and European level is needed
  • provide sustainable financing at an EU level so as to extract maximum value from the efforts of individual Member States
  • build on existing efforts where data communities have already organised themselves
  • develop a decision-making process for priorities that is user-driven and
  • accompany data with statements on ownership, accuracy and precision and recognise that marine data is a public good and discourage cost-recovery pricing from public bodies

Concept of EMODNET Internet Portal for hydrographic data (SENS BathyWeb):

Proof of concept
The "proof of concept" of EMODNET is being tested through preparatory actions. Internet portals for a number of maritime basins are being set up for hydrographic, geological, biological and chemical data as well as functional habitat maps. These portals will provide access to marine data of a standard format and known quality and identify gaps in coverage. The projects will identify the main challenges in moving from an prototype EMODNET to an operational EMODNET.

An impact assessment to be conducted in 2009 will assess options for moving towards a definitive EMODNET, both in the intermediate period 2011-2013 and in the long term after 2014. At the same time efforts will begin to integrate other funding mechanisms.