Tasks

POAwg will complete the following tasks, specifically in relation to observing assets such as sites, transects, observatories, projects, and networks:

1. Create a registry of Polar observing networks, documenting asset-related metadata standards, semantic technologies, and transfer protocols in use

2. Build crosswalks and facilitate existing tools for translation across standards

3. Create recommendations for adoption and implementation of established standards and solutions

These tasks are meant to be of high impact and high feasibility, and will build awareness for existing technologies. Completion of these tasks may involve conceptual models and use cases. It will leverage from other related efforts (e.g. RDA iADOPT, Science on Schema, ENVRI-FAIR, and more). The tasks could potentially be followed by other steps toward greater interoperability and a more comprehensive perspective. More detail on the tasks:

Creating a Registry of Networks

Across a diverse and fragmented landscape of observing systems, it can be difficult to know which are active where, and how they are sharing information about monitoring activities and observing assets.  This task will result in a network-level catalog with details (aka metadata elements) potentially encompassing:

• network name, abbreviation, description, country, contacts

• domain, observational parameters, observational protocols, observational frequency, region, spatial extent, asset types

• links to metadata, data, and more information

• asset-level standards, if used (such as ISO, WMO/WIGOS, INSPIRE, etc.)

• controlled vocabularies and other semantic technologies facilitating entry and consistency for various elements, if used

• machine-readable transfer protocols, if accessible (such as OIA-PMH, CSW, custom API’s, etc.)

This registry will have a frontend allowing users to browse, search, and filter for networks or details of interest, along with a graphical interface illustrating patterns of implementation.  This task will build upon prior inventories by SAON CON and EU-PolarNet, and may be completed in collaboration with EU-PolarNet 2.  The end result will help to: clarify established “best practices” for asset-level metadata sharing; establish a basis for integration through harvesting, aggregation, & federated search; better inform local communities of active efforts nearby; and guide network assessment & planning.

Building Crosswalks and Tools

In contrast to a broad range of established metadata standards in use to describe scientific datasets, there are relatively few that pertain to concepts such as observing sites, major infrastructure, transects, and field-based research projects.  And there are even fewer tools or resources to facilitate mapping of elements from one to another.  (For example, see mdTools from ADIwg, or a recent comparison on metadata implementations for research infrastructures).  This task will compile crosswalks across the most common standards or custom schemas in use, as identified in Task 1.  Additionally, we will build awareness of existing solutions.  The end result will significantly improve the ability to translate & harmonize for aggregation and federated search, and will inform the deliverable for Task 3.

Creating Recommendations for Interoperability

The practice of building and deploying asset-level metadata catalogs is still in its infancy.  Many networks and related organizations have done so, primarily for their own internal goals of resource tracking and operational management.  However, in many cases these databases (or spreadsheets) have been constructed from the ground up — with custom approaches that limit utility and impact.  To address this, POAwg will create a guidance document with recommendations for implementation, identifying established solutions with standards, protocols, vocabularies, crosswalks, open-source platforms, and more.  The end result will communicate an easier path for networks to populate, expand, and share metadata catalogs of observing assets — improving overall interoperability while saving considerable time and effort.

The form and scope of task deliverables will evolve as needed as the working group makes progress. Want to be involved? Please Sign Up.

Beyond Scope

POAwg will not attempt to: create new standards, create new controlled vocabularies or ontologies, conduct value tree assessment, establish essential variables, assess the sustainability or maturity of systems, create fused scientific data products, or build new inventories of sites, transects, observatories, or projects.  However, outcomes from the working group will establish a foundation for these objectives.