The OZCAR Research Infrastructure (RI) brings together 22 Critical Zone observatories around the world. Most of them have developed their own data/metadata distribution system, which leads to a very heterogeneous set of data and ultimately makes it difficult to access. To overcome this limitation, a common information system (IS) for in situ data is currently being built, under the aegis of the Theia continental surface data centre.
A unique portal for the Critical Zone
One of the goals of OZCAR-RI is the implementation of a unique portal allowing transparent access to metadata and data from all OZCAR-RI’s observatories according to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles. This portal is built in synergy with ongoing initiatives at national Theia Scientific data poles and DATA TERA RI) and international (eLTER) levels.
The Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), is in charge of building the Theia/OZCAR IS, with the involvement of two scientists from the OZCAR RI network and a team of two engineers. The in situ data IS has been designed based on the data’s complexity and richness collected in the OZCAR-RI and will be extended in a second step to other in situ data types.
Read more on Theia/OZCAR : https://www.theia-land.fr/product/donnees-in-situ/ or https://www.ozcar-ri.org/fr/donnees/