A Large-scale FAIR Research Data Infrastructure for Environmental Time Series Data
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In Environmental Sciences, Time-series data is key to, for example, monitoring environmental processes and validating Earth system models. A major issue is the lack of a consistent data availability standard aligned with the FAIR principles, but the Helmholtz Earth and Environment DataHub is working with the Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration project STAMPLATE to address this. The seven participating research centers are building a large-scale infrastructure using the Open Geospatial Consortium's SensorThings API (STA) as the central data interface. It is linked to other community-driven tools, such as sensor and device management systems, data ingestion systems, and the Earth Data Portal (www.earth-data.de) with highly customizable viewers. Our custom, semantic metadata profile augments STA’s core data model with domain-specific information. This ensures that metadata entered in any user self-service is also displayed in the Earth Data Portal along with the ingested data. The operationalization of the framework and its subsequent integration into research data workflows is imminent, thereby rendering long-term, nationwide measurements spanning decades available. Concurrently, our RDM processes are undergoing a transformative shift, moving from manual, person-based to self-organized, digital-supported workflows. This poster presents the fundamental elements of our initiative and the associated challenges. It also encourages new domains to get involved.
Institutions: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6949405137
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