1. MEDIN’s Foundations Data Archive Centre Network, Standards, Metadata, Portal, Reference Data

2. Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) 1.DAC Network: Framework of marine data archive centres. –To provide secure long-term management of priority marine data sets, according to best practice standards. 2.Standards: Guidance for data and metadata. –An agreed set of common standards for metadata, data format and content maintained and supported through implementation by partners. 3.Web Portal: Data search, other services and products –Improved access to authoritative marine data held in this network, through a central (discovery) metadata search capability. 4.Resource and Application Development –Specify user requirements, identify and implement solutions 5.International Coordination –Links to global databases and initiatives

3. MEDIN Schematic FisheriesMeteowater geophysmarinebathymetry column/ geology species oceanog. & habitats Discovery metadata Users Data search DAC and data specification standards Metadata standards Data in from partners and govt contracts metadata in from external databases tools Resources, Products and services Portal

4. The MEDIN DAC Network MEDIN is building a network of “accredited” marine Data Archive Centres, linked by the adoption of common standards and common descriptions of their data. DAC Network Objective: To provide secure long-term storage for marine data. To provide the capability to upload data into and to retrieve data from the DACs. Data contributors should have free access to their data managed within the DAC framework. Required capabilities of DACs : To ensure the secure, long term, curation of key marine data sets, according to best practice and to relevant national and international standards. To make available clear, searchable information on their data holdings, by the generation and publication of metadata on the MEDIN portal. To form the first point of call of expertise for the management of marine data.

5. Status of MEDIN DAC Network NameRelevant Expertise Contact InformationWeb linksMEDIN Status British Geological Survey (BGS) Geology, geophysics Paul Henni (phoh@bgs.ac.uk) www.bgs.ac.uk www.bgs.ac.uk/geoin dex/home.html Accredited British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) Oceanographic Data Polly Hadziabdic (enquiries@bodc.ac.ukenquiries@bodc.ac.uk www.bodc.ac.uk www.bodc.ac.uk/data/ where_to_find_data Accredited Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) Benthic flora, fauna and habitats Dan Lear (dble @mba.ac.uk)www.dassh.ac.ukAccredited UK Hydrographic Office Bathymetry Data Sam Harperwww.ukho.gov.ukAccreditation approved, under development MEDIN Fisheries DAC Fisheries survey data Marine Scotland Science CEFAS, AFBI Accreditation in progress – expected by 04/12 Met OfficeMarine Meteorology Nicola Scottwww.metoffice.gov.ukAccreditation in progress, expected by 04/12 Historic Environment, Socio Economic Data Possible scope and status under review

6. DAC Funding The MEDIN Sponsors have accepted the following recommended approach for supporting the costs of running Data Archive Centres, and the archiving of data within the DACs: “Core” DAC capability is directly supported by individual organisations who have a strategic interest in supporting DACs for specific data themes. (> £2M/yr) The MEDIN Exec Team will review the situation each year and make recommendations to appropriate bodies Coordination costs of the MEDIN DAC network will be supported through MEDIN sponsor funds, and in-kind support from the DACs. (~£160k/yr) Data Archiving costs for new data are to be supported by the data providers. These should be factored into the project costs at the beginning. (~£1M/yr) Data Retrieval Costs: Data retrieval should be free, or only as necessary to cover handling and media costs

7. Standards, Guidelines and Tools for Metadata and Data Products Establish and promote standards for metadata and data products - to allow users to locate and access the data sets they need, and also to provide guidelines and tools for the generation and preparation of metadata and data products. Discovery metadata standard and tools, available at: http://www.oceannet.org/marine_data_standards/medin_disc_stnd.html Data guidelines: Data guidelines are sets of requirements that must be recorded when data of a certain theme is being collected. MEDIN is developing guidelines where partners indicate they are needed. MEDIN data guidelines available at: http://www.oceannet.org/marine_data_standards/medin_data_guide.html

8. Data Guidelines Data Guidelines are sets of requirements that must be recorded when data of a certain type is being collected Guidelines developed and available Sediment Sampling by Grab or Core for benthos Digital Photographs Offshore Litter Oceanographic vertical profiles Cetacean sighting and identification Fish and benthos by static pot, net or trap Shellfish stock assessment Fish and benthos by trawl or dredge Moored oceanographic instruments Oceanographic underway transect Water sample for biology or chemistry Video tow surveys for species or biotopes Recreation and leisure Underwater Noise Guidelines under tender / planned Seabed survey and mapping (Geophysics covering a number of techniques) Particle size analysis

9. MEDIN Discovery Metadata (1) Producing and Publishing Metadata. All MEDIN partners are encouraged to generate MEDIN format discovery metadata records, and to publish these metadata records to the MEDIN Discovery Portal. Metadata records are harvested onto a central MEDIN metadata catalogue, which is managed and hosted for MEDIN by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and searched through the MEDIN portal on the oceannet web page. MEDIN will publish metadata to data.gov (through STFC) as requested by the data owner. Metadata Support – Is available through the MEDIN metadata helpline (01752 633291) or medin.metadata@mba.ac.uk medin.metadata@mba.ac.uk Please let us know if you have any difficulties

10. MEDIN Discovery Metadata (2) Discovery Metadata Standard The MEDIN standard is compliant with key international conventions (INSPIRE, ISO19115), and conforms to the GEMINI2 profile adopted by UKLP. Using this standard will help MEDIN partners to meet their obligations (for metadata) under INSPIRE. Controlled Vocabularies – The use of controlled vocabularies is strongly recommended so all can be sure that consistent terms are being used for the same parameters / species/ Tools- All MEDIN partners are encouraged to adopt the MEDIN standard, a number of tools have been developed to support this: An online tool to create and export a metadata record in xml A downloadable desktop metadata generation (“metadata maestro”) A downloadable metadata xml validation tool (A “Schematron”) A downloadable tool to generate metadata records from ESRI produced GIS data layers We are also developing a “batch” tool to support the production of large volumes of MEDIN standard metadata from other formats. http://www.oceannet.org/marine_data_standards/medin_disc_stnd.html

11. Network Services - MEDIN Discovery Portal The Marine Discovery Portal was developed for MEDIN in 2010, with the aim of providing a single central site to search for UK marine data It offers geographic and keyword searching, and specific “Regional” views. Coverage will increase as partners publish metadata on their holdings. It locates and provides details of data sets that meet users’ specifications and provides information on how to access these data. http://portal.oceannet.org/search/full

12. Reference Data Layers Base reference data layers are those required by most users which provide the context for many analyses. e.g: In addition there are a number of application specific datasets of general interest including: habitats and biotopes, species distributions, shipping and fishing activity intensity Coastline (MHW(S), MLW(S), LATElevation (Bathymetry) Tidal Surfaces (e.g. Mean Sea Level) Coastal and seabed geology Offshore InfrastructureShipwrecks Shoreline ConstructionsNational and Fisheries Limits Managed & Protected AreasMarine Gazetteer (incl Sea areas)

13. Reference Data Layers There is a need to improve availability and quality of these reference data layers, problems include: Lack of single authoritative source. Duplicate, sometimes conflicting, sources of some information. No process for management, maintenance or update. Licencing arrangements which restrict sharing or re-use. MEDIN plans to work with DEFRA, MMO, Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate, and others to strengthen and improve reference data sets. So, MEDIN has implemented a “Reference Data Layer Action Plan” - workshop was held on 6 th October at IMAREST.

14. Reference Data Layer Action Plan Objective Deliver a set of well-managed marine reference datasets that can be discovered and accessed via the MEDIN Portal Progress so Far Marine Gazetteer (V1.0) completed and published (on website and to external services) Improved wreck information held at English Heritage, reviewof conflicts between different sources of infrastructure data Engaged with data holders to establish roles in publishing Reference Data Identified work packages to strengthen /publish Reference Data Next Steps Agree and initiate specific actions to improve priority reference data layers. Establish Reference Data page on MEDIN website. Identify and address legacy issues

15. MASTS Annual Science Meeting 22-24 August 2011

16. Data Flows – Key Steps First Identify DAC where data will be archived Agree where metadata and data will be published by MEDIN (e.g. to UKLP, INSPIRE) Define access and licence conditions Agree format requirements and archiving costs Collect Data Generate a unique resource identifier code Generate, validate and publish metadata record Prepare data according to appropriate guidelines Apply Quality Control Archive data at DAC Provide data updates as agreed with DAC