Project URL: https://oceaninfohub.org/
The Ocean InfoHub (OIH) facilitates access to global oceans information, data and knowledge products for management and sustainable development. The OIH links and anchors a growing network of regional and thematic nodes that will improve online access to, and synthesis of existing global, regional and national data, information and knowledge resources, including existing clearinghouse mechanisms. The project is not establishing a new database, but will be supporting discovery and interoperability of existing information systems through the development of a lightweight Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) architecture. This enables users from Member States and other partners to discover data, data products, data services, information products and services.
The Project Document summary is available HERE
Objectives
The Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) provides an interoperability layer and supporting technology to allow existing and emerging ocean data and information systems, from any stakeholder, to interoperate with one another. ODIS links these distributed, independent, systems through a decentralized interoperability architecture (ODIS-Architecture), to form a digital ecosystem. As with natural ecosystems, ODIS will be resilient to the gain or loss of parts, and accommodate a high diversity of products and services, while maintaining its core functions. In this way, ODIS will provide a comprehensive and global e-environment where users can discover data, data products, data services, information, information products and services provided by Member States, projects and other partners. This will enable and accelerate more effective development and dissemination of digital technology and sharing of ocean data, information, and knowledge. As such, ODIS is not a new portal or centralised system but will provide a collaborative solution to link distributed systems for common goals. The ODIS Catalogue of Sources (ODISCat) is a closely related and linked initiative, which is an annotated catalogue of online resources serving ocean-related data and information products, currently containing over 3000 records. The OIH Project has first worked with IOC-associated online resources - including OceanExpert, Aquadocs, the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS), the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), and the World Ocean Database (WOD) – extended by partnerships with EurOcean, Marinetraining.eu, EMODNET, and many other sources in the IOC ODIS Catalogue of Sources (ODIScat).
The project aims to benefit marine and coastal stakeholders around the globe, but its initial focus has been on responding to requests for data products and services from three regions: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific Small Island Developing States, to meet their unique user community (thematic and language) requirements. OIH has focused on developing communities of practice for the three pilot regions, as well as to formalize partnerships with other UN agencies and key international partners. Through these actions, OIH is enabling a digital ecosystem where users, from any entry point, can discover content and services that they require, while also having opportunities to become content creators themselves. Based on feedback from the three pilot regions, the initial thematic focus of OIH will be on (i) Experts and institutions/organizations, (ii) Documents, (iii) Spatial data and maps, (iv) Research vessels, (v) Education and training opportunities, (vi) Projects.
Matchmaking services are an additional function of the OIH, particularly in support of the IOC Capacity Development strategy. Services will allow study and training or vessel survey opportunities to be identified, a peer-to-peer service would support scientific collaboration, and an automated/self-serve service would allow the search for specific human or institutional expertise. The project will also focus on the transfer of local knowledge, on supporting early career scientists, and on remedying gender disparity by increasing access to information, technologies and opportunities, in line with the IOC’s Capacity Development strategy.
Ultimately, the OIH intends to meet the knowledge needs of national and regional requirements for sourcing marine data and information, as well as to assist countries in their reporting requirements for the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly goals 4,9, 14 and 17), contribute to key aims of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for disaster Risk Reduction and Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. The OIH will also assist IOC member states to report on ocean science capacities through the Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR). The Ocean InfoHub Project will therefore provide an opportunity for partners and users to contribute to, and access the UN Ocean Decade global data ecosystem.
Activities
The Project development and implementation principles have been fully based on co-design: the project seeks the participation of the widest possible range of end user communities that are involved in the sustainable use and management of marine areas. This will ensure that the products and services developed through the project are relevant to all user communities including decision makers. The architecture of the project enables a strong focus on national and regional involvement, while also using a global technical and content framework which will enable also inter-regional content sharing. Detailed information about activities, and links to our dynamic Slack and Github resources may be found via the website https://oceaninfohub.org/
Governance
The IODE Steering Group for the Ocean InfoHub Project may be found here: https://oceanexpert.org/group/459
It is noted that the IOC Ocean InfoHub has been formally requested by IOCARIBE and IOCAFRICA:
- Recommendation SC-IOCARIBE-XV.1: IOC New Capacity Development Strategy: Implementation Plan
- “Urges IOCARIBE Member States to: … (iv) Actively participate in the further development and management of the IOC Clearing- House Mechanism for the Transfer of Marine Technology (CHM/TMT)”
- IOCAFRICA-V/3s (Summary Report IOCAFRICA-V):
- para 47: “The Sub-Commission recognized the importance of setting-up a regional hub for the Clearing House Mechanism for transfer of marine technology (CHM/TMT) and requested for details on requirements, as this will aid in deciding the appropriate location for the hub.”
- Recommendation IOCAFRICA-V.4: Programme of Work, 2019–2021: Activity 4.2: Setting up a regional hub for CHM/TMT
While the IOC does not have a regional subsidiary body for Pacific SIDS, Member States of that region have clearly expressed the need for IOC efforts on Capacity Development in their region and two regional organizations have expressed their interest and commitment to participate in the Project: The Pacific Community (SPC) and SPREP – Pacific Environment. These two organizations represent a large and multi-sectoral number of end user communities and have been instrumental in organising input from the Pacific SIDS region.
For more information:
Email Lucy Scott, UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE (Belgium), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Funded by the Government of Flanders (Kingdom of Belgium), the project started in April 2020 and will run until June 2024. The OIH is coordinated by the IOC Project Office for IODE (Oostende, Belgium), building on its 59-year history of supporting member states in the exchange and management of marine data and information.
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Created on: Tuesday, 18 February 2020 14:43
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Last Updated on: Monday, 30 January 2023 13:34