HAB Imaging Data Management Summary Report

The National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network (NHABON) coordinated a two-day virtual workshop from March 3 to March 4, 2026, to establish shared data management standards for integrating data from different imaging instrumentations, platforms, and projects. Workshop goals included: (1) identifying the key data that should be collected; (2) agreeing on formats for imaging data and related image metadata; and (3) determining how to serve data so they are accessible and usable to national researchers and managers. Over the two days, workshop participants discussed several shared priorities, including defining data processing levels, identifying key data and metadata, data interoperability, and continuing data management conversations to establish a clear pathway towards integration and aggregation.