Network Activity 5 - BlackSeaScene I
Development Black Sea virtual data and information infrastructureObjectives and expected impact:To develop and to implement a Black Sea virtual data and information infrastructure, including a Black Sea regional portal, to facilitate the access to metadata and distributed datasets, managed by the regional partners
Description of activities
Starting condition for the development of the virtual data and information structure is that it is a distributed network in which participating data source holders will keep managing their own datasets at institute level. A number of partners might do this with the use of major databases configurations; others might just manage data files. Cross-fertilization and cooperation will take place with the Pan-European data management infrastructure that has been founded within the 5FP Sea-Search project and that is being upgraded and further developed within the 6 FP SeaDataNet project.
Moreover, a dedicated Black Sea portal will be developed in cooperation with technical partners from the region, that will give access to the meta-directories and datasets at a regional scale. The portal will also feature socio-economic data and information of relevance for the region and a versatile dynamic mapping module.
The activities within NA5 can be divided as follows :
NA5-1 Developing the Project website:
During the first months of the project the first release of the Black Sea web portal will be prepared and launched, presenting the backgrounds, objectives, partners and set up of the project. Moreover an internet Forum application will be installed and structured, which will enable closed communication (extranet), including discussions and uploading – downloading of project documents, between project partners and an open Forum, whereby partners and users of the website can communicate and upload – download relevant documents.
NA5-2 Drafting a Conceptual Design for the infrastructure:
A conceptual design will be prepared for the Black Sea virtual data & information infrastructure, describing in detail the different elements of the web system including the functionalities. It will address how to make optimal use of the SeaDataNet developments and components and how to achieve a ‘seamless’ connection to the SeaDataNet infrastructure.
NA5-3: Developing and integrating the Black Sea virtual data and information infrastructure components:
The technical partners will develop the Black Sea web portal, including design and editing of texts and illustrations. The Forum application will be activated and structured for use in the Black Sea portal. The meta-directories EDMED, CSR and EDMERP will be loaded by the regional partners as part of activity NA4 and NA3. A versatile geographical interface and electronic mapping module will be installed and customized with thematic Black Sea maps and abilities to connect to the Common Data Index database for combined alphanumeric – geographical queries and presentations. Activities will be undertaken with the regional partners to install the Common Data Index components and the dataset connectors at their institutes. As part of this process the special Data Management Workshop (see NA2) will be held.
Regarding access to datasets: the portal CDI interface will enable the end-user to formulate a query using a standard Web Browser or an applet viewer. The user can combine query parameters (meta-data fields) and geographical constraints. The user can select an area of interest through the Geographical Interface. When the user has finished the query formulation, he submits the uniform query to the Central Common Data Index server. The user can then browse through the query results to identify the data which he is interested in. These datasets can then be selected and if availability conditions are not provided, the end-user can negotiate on line or by e-mail with the data-holding centre(s) about the availability conditions of the required data. A number of partners might provide direct internet access to their datasets; other partners might require contacting and negotiating access / receiving copies.