GC22C-08:
E-Infrastructure and Data Management for Global Change Research

Tuesday, 16 December 2014: 12:05 PM
M Lee Allison, Arizona Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ, United States, R J Gurney, University of Reading, Meteorology, Reading, RG6, United Kingdom, Roberto Cesar, USP University of Sao Paulo, FAPESP Science Program, São Paulo, Brazil, Roberto Cossu, European Space Agency, Villanueva De La Can, Spain, Birgit Gemeinholzer, Univeristy of Giessen, Giessen, Germany, Toshio Koike, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, Mustapha Mokrane, The International Council for Science, World Data System, Paris, France, Dale Peters, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Stefano Nativi, CNR Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Prato, Italy, Robert Samors, GEO Group on Earth Observations, Geneva, Switzerland, Andrew Treloar, Australian National Data Service, Melbourne, Australia, Jean-Pierre Vilotte, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France, Martin Visbeck, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany and Hans Christoph Waldmann, COOPEUS- University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Abstract:
The Belmont Forum, a coalition of science funding agencies from 15 countries, is supporting an 18-month effort to assess the state of international of e-infrastructures and data management so that global change data and information can be more easily and efficiently exchanged internationally and across domains. Ultimately, this project aims to address the Belmont “Challenge” to deliver knowledge needed for action to avoid and adapt to detrimental environmental change, including extreme hazardous events.

This effort emerged from conclusions by the Belmont Forum that transformative approaches and innovative technologies are needed for heterogeneous data/information to be integrated and made interoperable for researchers in disparate fields, and for myriad uses across international, institutional, disciplinary, spatial and temporal boundaries. The project will deliver a Community Strategy and Implementation Plan to prioritize international funding opportunities and long-term policy recommendations on how the Belmont Forum can implement a more coordinated, holistic, and sustainable approach to funding and supporting global change research. The Plan is expected to serve as the foundation of future Belmont Forum funding calls for proposals in support of research science goals as well as to establish long term e-infrastructure.

More than 120 scientists, technologists, legal experts, social scientists, and other experts are participating in six Work Packages to develop the Plan by spring, 2015, under the broad rubrics of Architecture/Interoperability and Governance: Data Integration for Multidisciplinary Research; Improved Interface between Computation & Data Infrastructures; Harmonization of Global Data Infrastructure; Data Sharing; Open Data; and Capacity Building.

Recommendations could lead to a more coordinated approach to policies, procedures and funding mechanisms to support e-infrastructures in a more sustainable way.