Data and Information

The new OSPAR Data and Information Management Strategy was signed in 2017. The new strategy continues the current pace of development of data and information in OSPAR whilst ensuring that an archive of historic data continues to be supplemented and maintained.

The new strategy will see steps forward in data policy and citation, metadata, data and information accessibility, and the use of data standards. Work will be undertaken to increase the visibility of OSPAR assessments and their products, and ensure important connections to the underpinning data and metadata are maintained, ensuring ease of reuse. The strategy has a strong emphasis on data and information accessibility including the development of data sharing protocol and making use of web services.

OSPAR Data and Information Management Strategy to 2020

1. Understanding and responding to the data and information management needs of OSPAR

Actions:


a. Requesting and providing regular feedback to OSPAR subsidiary bodies;

b. Reform the ODIMS Task Group with an amended task list; mainly strategic oversight of data management and implementation of the OSPAR Data and Information Management Strategy;
c. Sharing of requirements with the Coordination Group for strategic oversight;
d. Feedback from #7 to ensure integration needs is added into the long term plan.

2. Data Standards

Actions:


a. Define all OSPAR reporting formats and make available online;

b. Mapping of OSPAR data standards to external connections;
c. Schema mapping of OSPAR data standards;
d. Development of new datastreams in line with existing standards;
e. Implementation of INSPIRE data specifications.

3. Data Policy and Citation

Actions:


a. Mapping of OSPAR reporting timeline;

b. Allocation of tasks at all levels to ensure clarity and completion;
c. Regular feedback on reporting compliance;
d. Enforcement of defined timeline;
e. Clearly accessible citation;
f. Data free of restrictions (insofar as is possible; except where exceptional access restriction is agreed by Contracting Parties);
g. Amended data policy to reflect updated position;
h. Amended conditions of use to reflect updated position.

4. Metadata

Actions:


a. Continued development of both data and information metadata;

b. Visibility of and access to metadata for data and assessment products;
c. Development of an assessment metadata portal.

5. Reference files

Actions:


a. Full provision of all OSPAR reference files, historic and future;

b. Maintenance of an archive of reference files to ensure validity of reporting.

6. Data and Information Accessibility

Actions:


a. Release of data according to reporting timeline and data policy;

b. Maintenance of online data archive;
c. Maintenance of online information archive;
d. Management of large datasets;
e. Adaptation and development of portals to accommodate any new datastreams.

7. Integration

Actions:


a. Continued engagement in relevant data fora, including WISE-Marine, EMODnet and INSPIRE;

b. Development of data sharing protocol- including webservices;
c. Sharing of OSPAR schema mapping.

8. OSPAR Assessment Products

Actions:


a. Development of assessment products;

b. Linkage to corresponding data;
c. Integration of OSPAR reporting into the OSPAR Assessment Portal;
d. Streamlining of assessment production.

9. Portal Development programme

Actions:


a. Data requirements log;

b. Ad-hoc data requirements;
c. Strategic programme of developments;
d. Financial considerations and planning.