e-Science and Technology Infrastructurefor Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
Biodiversity
Species (organisms and their populations)
>107 species; species with 102 to 1012 individuals
Genes and DNA106 to 109 nucleotides in a DNA molecule
Ecosystemshabitats with 104 to 106 species,
and manyfold interactions
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
animals plants fungi mono-cellular bacteria
Series1
X 1000
Estimated number of species
?
Mostlyinsects
The big questions in biodiversity research
Scale
Ecosystems
Species
DNA,
proteins
and genes
Time andevolution
?
What are the impacts of changes in climate, pollution and land/sea-use on biodiversity
How do changes affect the provision of ecosystem services
Can we adapt to environmental change
Where are the thresholds in ecosystem structures and functions
How to manage multi-functional land/sea-scapes
Which actions to ensure long-term sustainability
The biodiversity system is complex and cannot be described by the simple sum of its components and relations
Experimentation on a fewparameters is not enough:
Limitations to scaling up results for understanding system properties
LifeWatch adds a new technology to support the generation and analysis of large-scale data-sets on the biodiversity system.
Find patterns and learn processes.
This defines an infrastructure with • distributed observatories/sensors, • interoperable databases, • computational capability, • and computational capacity.
• A single portal for researchers, policy makers, industries and public at large
• Find data and model to analyse statistical relationships• Accelerate data capture with new technologies• Structure the scientific community
with new opportunities for large-scale projects
LifeWatch: an Analytical Platform
• supports research on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning from the gene up to the landscape level
• drives frontier science through fast and new technologies
• combines science and policy perspectives
Year 2013Increasing worries about the effects of climate change on the invasion of pest insects.
A researcher has an innovative plan to model the possible effects on food crops.
This requires data sets from all over Eurasia and lots of computational capacity.
Year 2014
Our researcher builds a LifeWatch virtual work space and attracts dozens of collaborators inventing additional functions. Data providers also jump in.
Year 2015Donors are starting a campaign for a funding programme. The researcher receives an important prize.
Genes
Species
Ecosystems
Observatories
Interoperability
Analysis & modelling
data functions
Crucial resources
Architecture
Resources
E-Infrastructure
Composition
Users
Collaboration•Common Exploratory Environment•Collaborative Virtual Organisations
Data • measurements,
observations & sensors• other infrastructures
Statistical softwareDistributed computing power
Analysis and processing• Integration of resources• Documented, shared workflows• Grid computation
Semantic metadata frameworkand workflow development
E-Infrastructure
Composition
Users
Resources
The LifeWatchresearch infrastructure
LifeWatch and GBIF: serving each other
Resources
E-Infrastructure
Composition
Users
GBIF
GBIF provides access to data (web services)
LifeWatch supports its users to share their data through GBIF
Data access & interoperability
Analytical tools
Models
Applications
Data / resource providers
LifeWatch
Highway for analyses and use
GBIFData sharing on species, specimens and observations
Some examples of data, modelling and analysis capabilities
Thematic Services
Phylogenomics &Biogeography
Taxonomy &Systematics
Species Richness & Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity Valuation
Species DistributionDynamics
Genes-Species-Specimens(multi-scale linkages)
Citizen Science &Observations
Base Services
GeneralServices
GeospatialServices
Computational Resources
Portal Server(s)
Services and Tools Catalogue
Provenance/citation repository
Annotations repository
Semantic Mediation Framework
Operations Services
Virtual Collaborative Environments
Workflow management
Benefits and user groups
Basic research
Molecular biologyPopulation biologySystematicsEcosystem researchSystems biologyComputationEconomy
Basic research
Molecular biologyPopulation biologySystematicsEcosystem researchSystems biologyComputationEconomy
Applied sciences
Nature conservation & managementAgriculture FisheriesEpidemiologyPharmacyBiotechnology
Applied sciences
Nature conservation & managementAgriculture FisheriesEpidemiologyPharmacyBiotechnology
Other communities
EEA, Ministries and national agenciesEngineering comp.Oil & mining industryInsuranceMilitaryInformation Tech
Other communities
EEA, Ministries and national agenciesEngineering comp.Oil & mining industryInsuranceMilitaryInformation Tech
LifeWatch as a distributed research infrastructure
Distributed entities“owned” by LifeWatch
Distributed independententities, but crucialfor LifeWatch operations
Data networks
LifeWatchLifeWatch
Applications
Analysis/Modelling
Data integration
Data management
Data generation(digitizing; sampling;sensoring
Collection andobservation networksCollection andobservation networks
LTER network and marine stations
Some partners in the ‘infrastructure grid’
2008 2009 2010
initialdecision
finaldecision
logisticsconstruction
The assumed Life Watch life cycle
Earlier projects Conception Preparations ConstructionOperation &
Evolution
1995 2005 2008 2011 2014
Politicalcommitment
Construction‘blue print’
Critical !
PreparatoryPhase
Construction Phase
Activities
Time
Preferred phase transition
Coord.Management
Coord.Management
Publicity& PR
Publicity& PR
StrategyStrategy Legalorganisation
Legalorganisation
Financialplan
Financialplan
Constructionpolicy
Constructionpolicy
Serviceplan
Serviceplan
Risk & QualityControl
Preparatoryproject
The Life Watch Preparatory PhaseA Policy & Science Board oversees the project
CountriesNetworks of Excellence
Countries
Data networks
User sectors
Partnership in the preparatory project
Scientific networks
Executive participants
Industry
International infrastructures
Contracted participants
Other partnersStatus as per November 2009
19 countries: letter of support for the preparations
Up to now, 11 countries selected LifeWatch for their national Road Map
7 of these will start consultations and negotiations
Also interest from other continents
2012
2011
2010
Governance Project
Submission of ERIC StatutesStakeholders Board meets
Go/no-go for the Construction
Master Plan in the public
Critical mass to start early Constructions
Early start of start-up organisationfor the Construction Phase
EC approves the Statutes
End of the Preparatory ProjectSignatory event with Ministers1st meeting Governing Board
New LifeWatch organisationin place
Additional countries join the LifeWatch ERIC
1st Operational servicesTarget time line
Thank you