Objectives
The IODE Associate Data Unit is inteded to bring in the wider ocean research and observation communities as key stakeholders of the IODE network, taking into account the growth of ocean research and observation programmes and projects, and the ability of these projects to establish data systems.It is important for these communities to share, provide access to and preserve all ocean research and observation data.
By joining IODE as an ADU projects, programmes, institutions or organizations will get the following benefits:
- Receive information on, and contribute to, IODE standards and best practices related to ocean data management,
- Be welcomed to participate in ocean data and information management training, organized within the framework of the IODE OceanTeacher programme
- Receive assistance, upon request, from IODE, on matters related to ocean data management,
- Be invited, as observers, to participate in Sessions of the IODE Committee,
- Participate in IODE workshops and projects,
- Share expertise with other ADUs and NODCs,
In return the global community, through the IODE National Oceanographic Data Centres, will benefit from the ADUs as these will be invited to share their data and information on their data collection (metadata catalogue), and this should be through their NODC (in the case of national projects, programmes, institutions or organizations), or through another IODE data facility (in the case of regional or international projects, programmes, institutions or organizations) or, in the case of biogeographic data, through iOBIS,
List of ADUs
Current number of established ADUs: 24 (22 February 2017)
(sorted according to date of establishment, most recent first)
OBIS Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations (OBIS-SEAMAP)
Durham North Carolina, USA
ADU formally established: 22 February 2017
The Ocean Biogeographic Information System Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations (OBIS-SEAMAP) is the biggest global biogeographic data center for marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles and has been successfully building and enhancing biogeographic database services and online mapping and visualization services for more than a decade. OBIS-SEAMAP, hosted at the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, has been an active participant to the international OBIS network, contributing significant amount of data to the OBIS database and developing its online mapping application. The Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab has strong relationships to US federal agencies (e.g. the Navy, NOAA, BOEM, NASA) and marine labs as well as international conservation organizations. OBIS-SEAMAP is unique in that it is actively expanding its capability to archive and disseminate non-traditional data types such as telemetry tracking, photo- identification, survey effort, ecological models, and passive acoustic monitoring. It is also one of the major data contributors to OBIS-USA. - http://seamap.env.duke.edu - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comisión Permanente Pacifico Sur (CPPS-OBIS)
Guayaquil, Ecuador
ADU formally established: 17 January 2017
The Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS) is an intergovernmental body with international legal personality and was created by mandate of the countries through the Santiago Declaration in 1952. This Regional Maritime Organization promotes and articulates the cooperation and coordination of the maritime policies of its Member States: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. CPPS administrates two on-line information systems developed in the last five years: the Information System on Marine Biodiversity and Protected Areas SIBIMAP (www.sibimap.net) and the geoportal SPINCAM (Southeast Pacific Data and Information Network to Support the Integrated Coastal Area Management Project) (www.atlasspincam.net). One of the CPPS objectives is become a node of knowledge in the region. CPPS provides a permanent platform to integrate data from different projects and programs carried out in the region. CPPS applied for IODE/ADU membership to become an OBIS node (CPPS-OBIS). - http://www.cpps-int.org - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR/Antarctic OBIS)
Cambridge, UK
ADU formally established: 20 May 2016
SCAR, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, is an interdisciplinary body of ICSU, the International Council for Science, and it is charged with the initiation, promotion and co-ordination of scientific research in Antarctica. SCAR also provides international, independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty system and other bodies. SCAR signed the ADU application on behalf of the Antarctic OBIS node, which mobilises data through the Antarctic Biodiversity Portal (Biodiversity.aq), which integrates SCAR-MarBIN (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research - Marine Biodiversity Information Network), with the biodiversity databases managed by the Australian Antarctic Division, bringing together data from marine and terrestrial realms into a portal that provides access to a variety of online services. The biogeographic data from the Antarctic are provided to OBIS and ultimately GBIF. - http://biodiversity.aq/ - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
U.S. Geological Survey - OBIS USA (USGS/OBIS-USA)
Denver, USA
ADU formally established: 14 March 2016
The Ocean Biogeographic Information System‐USA (OBIS-USA) is a project within the United States Geological Survey. OBIS‐USA brings together marine biological occurrence data – recorded observations of identifiable marine species at a known time and place, collected primarily from U.S. Waters or with U.S. funding. Coordinated by the Core Science, Analytics, Synthesis and Libraries Program (CSAS&L) of USGS, OBIS‐USA, strives to meet national needs for access to data about marine organisms and ecosystems. Through our agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), OBIS‐USA is periodically archived into the NCEI system to aid in long‐term availability of the data. The data contained in OBIS‐USA are provided through a web application and through online services for broader use in other applications and data systems. Service or Application Programming Interfaces include NOAA’s ERDDAP system and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility’s Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT). - http://www1.usgs.gov/csas/obis-usa/ - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
Akureyri, Iceland
ADU formally established: 28 October 2015
CAFF is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council and consists of National Representatives assigned by each of the eight Arctic Council Member States, representatives of Indigenous Peoples' organizations that are Permanent Participants to the Council, and Arctic Council observer countries and organizations. CAFF's mandate is to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and to communicate its findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources. It does so through various monitoring, assessment and expert group activities.
- http://www.caff.is - email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR)
Santa Marta, Colombia
ADU formally established: 13 October 2015
INVEMAR is a non-profit organization of scientific and technological research. Its mission is to perform basic and applied research of renewable natural resources and the environment in the coasts and marine and oceanic ecosystems of national interest of Colombia, in order to provide the needed scientific knowledge for policy formulation, decision making and preparation of plans and projects. - http://www.invemar.org.co - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fundación Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano
Magdalena, Colombia
ADU formally established: 13 October 2015
UTADEO aims to (i) be an academic and scientific area for creation, and execution of oceanographic and meteorological data from the Colombian Caribbean, integrating training activities of undergraduate and graduate programmes in marine science concepts; (ii) create a space for discussion and amalysis around the role of tropical areas in the global dynamics changes, and integrate ideas from internaional and national oceanographic agencies that lead to a better study of the tropical seas; (iii) generate permanent oceanographic and meteorological reports through the web in specific institutional sites that are designated, hacing scope to the entire scientific community about the envieonmrnetl conditions of the Colombian Caribbean. - http://www.utadeo.edu.co - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
Bogota, Colombia
ADU formally established: 13 October 2015
National Natural Parks of Colombia is a national Special Administrative Unit without juridical personality but with administrative and financial autonomy and jurisdiction in all the national territory according to the terms of Article 67 Law 489 of 1998. The entity is in charge of the administration and management of the Systems of National Natural Parks and of the coordination of the National System of Protected Areas.Oceans Past Initiative - http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Oceans Past Initiative
The Oceans Past Initiative (OPI) is a global research network for marine historical research. Their goal is to enhance knowledge and understanding of how the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life in the world’s oceans has changed over the long term to better indicate future changes and possibilities, and to contribute to the sustainable use of marine systems. OPI is a tier-3 OBIS node under EurOBIS. hmap.sea.ee/index.php
Contact Ms Cristina Brito, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon · Centre for Overseas History (CHAM) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (1 July 2015)
Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, IraqBasrah, Iraq
The Marine Science Centre (MSC) centered at the University of Basrah, has recently celebrated 40 years of operation in southern Iraq. Our environmental and water resources group has a multitude of specializations (biology, chemistry, geology, hydrology, ecology) and have been involved in marine and environmental research projects (consulting and academic) for industry, government and international institutions. We are a globally known resource for the Mesopotamian Marshes and are a driving force behind the restoration of the Mesopotamian marshlands. The MSC, through the academic and consulting projects we have completed, has a plethora of baseline, seasonal and annual data related to biodiversity and environmental parameters throughout southern Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. With a specific devotion the Mesopotamian Marshlands, the MSC has collaborated with international institutions to study this “Garden of Eden” and is consulted internationally for data. We also collaborate with international organizations such as ROPME, IUCN and UNEP on a regular basis. Our collection of research vessels, marine stations, research station and monitoring equipment and supplies cannot be matched in the region.
Ocean Tracking Network (OTN)
Halifax, NS, Canada
ADU formally established on : 13 March 2015
Ocean Tracking Network is a global ocean research and technology development platform. OTN deploys acoustic receivers and oceanographic monitoring equipment in key ocean locations around the world to track the movements and survival of marine animals carrying acoustic tags. OTN tracks many keystone, commercially important, and endangered animals including marine mammals, sea turtles, and fishes including sharks, sturgeon, eels, tuna, salmonoids and cod. OTN also deploys benthic pods and Slocum electric gliders for oceanographic sampling measuring temperature, salinity, conductivity, oxygen and depth. An essential component of the OTN platform is the Data Centre hosted at the Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Canada. All OTN data are archived at ISDM, DFO Canada (IODE NODC) and in addition, near real-time glider data are submitted to GTS and tag release metadata is sent to OBIS Canada (BIO, DFO Canada). http://oceantrackingnetwork.org/
Contact Ms Lenore BAJONA, Director Data Management, Ocean Tracking Network Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Kanagawa, Japan
ADU formally established on : 19 January 2015
JAMSTEC is an independent administrative institution for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of academic research in addition to the improvement of marine science and technology by undertaking fundamental research and development on marine and other related activities through academic research related to the Ocean for the benefit of peace and human welfare. With its leadership and performance in the research community, JAMSTEC has been regarded as equivalent to a national research institute. JAMSTEC hosts the secretariat of the Japan Regional OBIS Node (J-RON) to accumulate marine biogeographic data stored in Japanese institutions/organizations/projects into JAMSTEC’s Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL), and makes these data available to the public and transfers the data to iOBIS. http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/
Contact Toru Iseto, Global Oceanographic Data Center and Katsunori Fujikura, Department of Marine Biodiversity Research. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Copenhagen, Denmark
ADU formally established on : 13 October 2014
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (www.gbif.org) was founded in 2001 as an intergovernmental scientific infrastructure aimed at providing free and open access to biodiversity data, via the Internet. It offers a single online access point to more than 500 million biodiversity records published from around 15,000 datasets published by some 600 institutions. GBIF operates through a network of national and thematic nodes, and a secretariat (GBIFS) based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The GBIF secretariat has accumulated considerable expertise on open data publishing through its informatics development and its global community, resulting in a suite of manuals and a training programme that may be of use to many in the IODE community. GBIF and IOC/IODE/OBIS signed an agreement of cooperation, recognizing the two initiatives as complementary with common goals on the management, publication and use of biodiversity data, with IODE/OBIS's special role in meeting the requirements of policy makers and researchers for data and information on marine biodiversity. http://www.gbif.org
Contact: Dmitry Schigel, programme officer for content analysis and use; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Coastal Zone Management Unit
Warrens Towers 2, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados
ADU formally established on : 15 July 2014
The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) is a specialized government agency focused on coastal conservation through shoreline monitoring, stabilization and enhancement. This is achieved through multidisciplinary activities inter alia: coral reef monitoring, evaluation of all coastal development applications from the Town and Country Development Planning Office (TCDPO), routine beach erosion and accretion monitoring, oceanographic monitoring, routine updating of the inventory of coastal structures, the regulation of marine research, public education on coastal management, and coastal conservation project designs and management. The organization features of three technical departments (Coastal Planning, Coastal Engineering and Marine Research) as well as a Project Execution Unit, and has an overall staff compliment of 35. The CZMU, is dedicated to advancing the knowledge, use, development, conservation and management of the coastal zone of Barbados and its resources. Currently, the CZMU is executing the Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Program (CRMP) financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and aimed at building resilience to coastal hazards through improved conservation and management of the coastal zone utilizing a risk-based approach. http://www.coastal.gov.bb
Contact: Ramon Roach, Coastal Information Systems Manager; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea
89, Frantsuzsky Blvd Odessa, Odessa oblast, 65009, Ukraine
ADU formally established: 15 July 2014
The Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea (USCES), Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine (UkrSCES) was renamed in January in 1992 on the basis of the Odessa Branch State Oceanographic Institute founded in 1968. It is the main institution of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in the field of marine ecological researches. USCES – is an unique institution of all state ecological systems of monitoring within the Black and Azov Seas, which provides a whole complex of tasks of ecological monitoring.
The main task of UkrSCES is scientific and practical providing of realization of public policy of Ukraine in relation to the protection, rational use and rehabilitation of natural resources in the Black and Azov Seas basin, and also provides implementation of international obligations of Ukraine, in relation to marine aspects.
Contact: Richard Lisovskyi – Head Geo Information Analysis Department; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Institute Of Oceanography And Environment (INOS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia
21030 Kuala Terengganu Terengganu, MALAYSIA
ADU formally established: 20 June 2014
The Institute of Oceanography and Environment is one of the oldest oceanography centres in Malaysia. In 2001 INOS was accorded official status by the Malaysian Government after recommendation by the IOC of UNESCO. In 2012 it was recogbnzied as the sole Higher Institution Center of Excellence (HiCoE) in the field of Marine Science by the Malaysian Government. The institute has established a central database to ensure all datasets collected are archived. Data collections include physical, biological, chemical and remote sensing data.
Contact: Assoc. Prof Dr Aidy @ Mohamed Shawal M Mulsim - email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Centro Nacional Patagonico (CENPAT) of the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET)
Blvd. Brown 2915, 9120 Puerto Madryn-Chubut, Argentina
ADU formally established: 28 April 2014
CENPAT‐CONICET centralizes biological information about the distribution of vertebrates from the coastal areas of Argentina and the continental shelf of the South-western Atlantic Ocean. It also integrates data about the distribution of resident vertebrates which emigrate to the Southern Ocean and the Pacific. The objective is to provide to better knowledge of the Patagonian Large Marine Ecosystem, through a web-accessible tool that facilitates the analysis of species distribution patterns. At regional level CENPAT‐CONICET is presented as a functional precursor for data base and mapping tools to build on a standardized model that can be enlarged and validated. The database services increase the academic impact generated by regional projects by sending interoperable information to national (SNDB and SNDM) and global (OBIS) databases. In IODE, CENPAT‐CONICET will act as the Argentinian OBIS node.
Contact: Mirtha Lewis, Director Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Institute of Technology and Marine Sciences (INTECMAR) Universidad Simón Bolívar
AP 89000 Caracas 1080, Venezuela
ADU formally established: 25 March 2014
The Institute of Technology and Marine Sciences (INTECMAR) of the Universidad Simón Bolívar was establish in 1970 with the goal to formulate and execute basic and applied research in marine sciences with the participation of multi-disciplinary teams, and to provide answers to scientific and societal questions in the Venezuelan marine spaces. INTECMAR has been responsible for many national and regional programs for the monitoring of marines ecosystems. Also, the Institute has conducted many environmental studies in Venezuelan marine waters for the decision makers in the public and private sector. In IODE, INTECMAR will be the Caribbean node of OBIS.
Contact: Eduardo Klein. Associate Professor Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Iv.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU)
1, Chavchavadze Ave., 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
ADU formally established: 11 March 2014
Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia (TSU) was established in 1918. The TSU successfully collaborates with Academy of Science of Georgia. Department of Geography of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences and GeoDNA (IOC/UNESCO) are strongly involved in the research and expertising on marine environmental and ecological research, meteorology, oceanography, education and raise of public awareness. In collaboration with the international organizations university staff members and postgraduate students are taking part in various programs and IP, such as: "Floating University", MedarMedatlas, NATO sfp 791818 Project, the Science & Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) Project, EU funded projects - SEA-SEARCH, ASCABOS, Black Sea Scene, SEADATANET, SESAME, PERSEUS,EMODNET, EMBLAS, BS TUARISM NET etc.
Contact: Dr., Assoc. Professor Kakhaber Bilashvili, Head of ADU Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)
3/F ERDB Building, UPLB Forestry Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
ADU formally established: 28 January 2014
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity was established to facilitate cooperation and coordination among the members of the ASEAN, and with relevant national governments, regional and international organizations, on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such biodiversity in the ASEAN Region. The Biodiversity Information Management Unit of ACB provides technical support in establishing and maintaining a repository of information relevant to biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN Region. ACB will become the South-East Asia node of IODE's Ocean Biogeographic Information System (SEA-OBIS).
Contact: Christian B. Elloran. Database Specialist, Biodiversity Information Management - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR)
GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
ADU formally established: 28 January 2014
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) aims to advance Australian climate, marine and earth systems science. We focus on issues affecting Australia and the world, and we provide a range of scientific and consulting services that are underpinned by this research. CMAR provides original georeferenced marine species data from its own holdings to OBIS, and coordinates and forwards additional marine species data to OBIS from other regional suppliers. It also operates a regional portal for OBIS at www.obis.org.au and assists OBIS with the maintenance and provision of tools for taxonomic data processing and cleaning including IRMNG, the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera, and Taxamatch fuzzy matching software for misspelled scientific names of organisms. It has also assisted in the design of previous generations of the OBIS portal (2004-2010) and its staff served on previous OBIS International and Technical Committees (2002-2010).
Contact: Dr Dave Watts
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture - Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
P.O.Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
ADU formally established: 28 January 2014
The Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture - Hellenic Centre for Marine Research is host of the Mediterranean node of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (MedOBIS) since 2004. It acts as the Regional Repository of Marine Biodiversity Data and as a communication / dissemination forum for Marine Biodiversity Research in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. MedOBIS provides a common platform for the integration of efforts devoted to Marine Biodiversity in the region. The further development and sustainability of MedOBIS is guaranteed by the LifeWatchGreece infrastructure.
Contacts: Dr. Christos Arvanitidis – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Sarah Faulwetter – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46Copenhagen V
DK-1553
Denmark
ADU formally established: 28 January 2014
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) – a global organization for enhanced ocean sustainability. ICES is a network of more than 4000 scientists from almost 300 institutes, with 1600 scientists participating in activities annually. ICES is an intergovernmental organization whose main objective is to increase the scientific knowledge of the marine environment and its living resources and to use this knowledge to provide advice to competent authorities. ICES Science and Advice considers both how human activities affect marine ecosystems and how ecosystems affect human activities. In this way, ICES ensures that best available science is accessible for decision-makers to make informed choices on the sustainable use of the marine environment and ecosystems. The ICES Data Centre manages a number of large dataset collections related to the marine environment covering the North East Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Greenland Sea and Norwegian Sea. The majority of data originate from national institutes that are part of the ICES network of member countries. The ICES Data Centre provide marine data services to ICES member countries, expert groups, world data centres, regional sea conventions (HELCOM and OSPAR), the European Environment Agency (EEA), Eurostat and various other European projects, and biodiversity portals. Dataset collections are organised around specific thematic data portals, as well as an overarching data warehouse. The current dataset portals provided by ICES are: Biological community, Contaminants and biological effects, Eggs and Larvae, Fish predation (stomach contents), Fish trawl survey, Historical Plankton, Ocean physics and chemistry. All data managed by ICES are subject to the ICES data policy, which aims to maximize the availability of data to the marine community. http://ices.dk/explore-us/what-we-do/Pages/marine-data.aspx
Contact: Neil Holdsworth. Head of Data and Information, ICES Secretariat. E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States
ADU formally established: 2 November 2013
The BCO-DMO was created in late 2006, by combining the formerly independent data management offices for the U.S. GLOBal Ocean ECosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) and U.S. Joint Global Ocean flux Study (JGOFS) programs. BCO-DMO staff members work with investigators to serve data from research projects funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences Directorate (GEO) Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) Biological and Chemical Oceanography Sections and Polar Programs (PLR) Antarctic Sciences Organisms & Ecosystems Program (ANT). Since 2006, researchers have been contributing new data to the BCO-DMO data system. As the data from new research efforts have been added to the data previously shared by U.S. GLOBEC and U.S. JGOFS researchers, the BCO-DMO system has developed into a rich repository of data from ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research programs. All data managed by BCO-DMO are archived at the appropriate National Data Archive, including NODC, OBIS, and the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC).
Contacts: Cynthia L. Chandler (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); Robert C. Groman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Background on ADUs as a structural element of IODE
The IODE Associate Data Units (ADU) were established as structural elements of IODE by the IODE Committee at its 22nd Session (2103) through Recommendation IODE-XXII.16:
Recommendation IODE-XXII.16
IODE ASSOCIATE DATA UNIT (ADU)
The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange,
Acknowledging the important role and success of the IODE National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs) as key partners in realizing the IODE objectives,
Noting the importance of including the wider ocean research and observation community as key stakeholders of the IODE,
Noting further the growth of ocean research and observation programmes and projects, and the ability of these projects to establish data systems,
Stressing the need to share, provide access to and to preserve all ocean research and observation data,
Noting the importance of standardization and interoperability of data and information systems across the ocean research and observation communities,
Recommends the establishment of IODE Associate Data Units (ADUs) as structural elements of IODE with the following Terms of Reference:
IODE Associate Data Units (ADUs) shall:
- Be national projects, programmes, institutions or organizations (other than NODCs), or regional or international projects, programmes, institutions or organizations that carry out data management functions,
- Receive information on, and contribute to, IODE standards and best practices related to ocean data management,
- Be welcomed to participate in ocean data and information management training, organized within the framework of the IODE OceanTeacher programme,
- Be invited, as observers, in Sessions of the IODE Committee,
- Participate in IODE workshops and projects,
- Share expertise with other ADUs and NODCs,
- Be invited to share their data and information on their data collection (metadata catalogue), and this should be through their NODC (in the case of national projects, programmes, institutions or organizations), or through another IODE data facility (in the case of regional or international projects, programmes, institutions or organizations) or, in the case of biogeographic data, through iOBIS,
- Receive assistance, upon request, from IODE, on matters related to ocean data management,
- Closely link with their IODE National Oceanographic Data Centre (NODC), if existing (in the case of national projects, organizations and institutions),
- Agree to make available data management documentation (standards, practices, guides,…) used by the ADU,
Notes that ADUs will not replace NODCs (centralized or distributed) but should contribute to the objectives of NODCs by (i) improving the completeness of data coverage of NODCs; (ii) ensuring the long-term archival and preservation of ADU data by NODCs; and (iii) increasing awareness amongst the ocean research and observation community of the importance of professional data management through IODE NODCs,
Invites any project, programme, institution or organization that is willing to comply with the above-mentioned Terms of Reference to apply to join IODE as an IODE Associate Data Unit (ADU) by providing the following information:
(i) name and contact information of the ADU contact point(s);
(ii) name and contact point of the head of the applicant entity;
(iii) description of the national, regional or international project, programme, institution or organization;
(iv) brief description of data services/products provided by the entity;
(v) for projects: expected lifespan of the project and indication of plan for the archival/preservation of the data, data management plan;
(vi) letters of support;
(vii) required expertise, training that IODE could contribute;
(viii) data policy (if identified) of the applicant entity;
(ix) of the existing relationship with a NODC.
Recommends further that applications for ADUs shall be reviewed by the IODE Officers (by email or during IODE Officer meetings) in consultation with - and in the case of national projects, programmes, institutions or organization, subject to approval by the relevant NODC (if existing) - SG-OBIS (for biogeographic information) or other relevant recognized international programme.
Invites IOC Member States to actively promote ADU membership of (inter)national projects, programmes and institutions
- Details
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Created on: Friday, 19 April 2013 12:18
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Last Updated on: Friday, 20 October 2017 16:22
