WorldFAIR (D11.3) Ocean Science and Sustainable Development Demonstration

In close succession of WorldFAIR deliverables 11.1 and 11.2, this deliverable briefly reports on demonstrations of verified, FAIR (meta)data exchanges with selected, independent partners through the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS). These exchanges are facilitated through Web architectural approaches and linked open data (LOD) norms, which the ODIS Architecture (ODIS-Arch) has used to create digital supply chains between highly diverse data systems around the world. With WorldFAIR’s support, ODIS-Arch has been extended with new (meta)data profiles to support cross-domain interoperability, in alignment with the principles of the emerging Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF). Due to its success, the ODIS approach to domain-independent, interoperable data and information flow is being used as a guiding reference implementation for CDIF (described further in D11.2), aligned to its core principles.

While primarily concerned with Work Package (WP) 11, this deliverable also has bearing on the thematic areas of WP03 (Chemistry), WP05 (Geochemistry), WP09 (Biodiversity), WP10 (Agricultural Biodiversity), WP12 (Disaster Risk Reduction), and WP13 (Cultural Heritage). This document focuses on WP03, WP09, WP12, and WP13, but the demonstrations and new specifications noted are relevant to WP05 and WP10 due to their thematic proximity to the former WPs. As described in Section 2, (meta)data from each domain represented in these WPs is now flowing across the ODIS Federation, and is - to varying degrees - FAIR within and beyond it. Due to alignments in LOD implementation, direct interoperation between ODIS (WP11) and GBIF (WP9) is now being implemented, which has far-reaching implications for marine biodiversity data flow and the strengthening of Essential Ocean Variable (EOV) data systems. Presently, interoperation potential with other WPs is less technically direct; however, clear avenues to mature the status quo are present and discussed in Section 2, based on insights from WorldFAIR case studies.

In terms of the wider datascape, this deliverable shows that cross-domain digital interoperability can be straightforward, should 1) a trusted, regionally and domain-neutral entity provide coordination and conflict resolution (in the case of WP11, the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange of IOC-UNESCO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), 2) the will to collaborate, rather than compete, exists across partners, 3) global perspective and multilateralism inform highly competent technical leadership, and 4) clear implementation and operational concerns are ranked above untested innovation and bureaucratic convenience.  

The overall conclusion of this deliverable is one of great optimism: the demonstrations presented here, and the trend across the other WorldFAIR case studies discussed, indicate a strong convergence towards domain-neutral (meta)data exchange over the Web, where domain-specific conventions are either translated to or embedded within generic serialisations and semantics to allow rapid and accurate communication across highly diverse implementation and operational scenarios. Work to secure the progress made in WorldFAIR will continue and seek further resourcing to fulfil the great promise co-developed during the project.

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WorldFAIR is funded by the EC HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ERA-01-41 Coordination and Support Action under Grant Agreement No. 101058393.