Sharing research data of the sand motor with the openearth datalab

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Martijn Bakker, Kees den Heijer

Friday 3 july 2015

12:42 - 12:45h at Oceania (level 0)

Themes: (T) Managing deltas, (ST) Wetland protection and shore restoration, Poster pitches

Parallel session: Poster pitches: 15K. Deltas - Wetland

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Increasingly, scientific breakthroughs are powered by advanced online data sharing solutions that help researchers share their datasets. Moreover the speed at which any given scientific discipline advances will depend on how well its researchers collaborate with one another, and with technologists, in areas of eScience such as databases, workflow management, visualization, and cloud computing technologies, as explained in the 4th paradigm. (source: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/collaboration/fourthparadigm/). Standardisation of an online research environments, called DataLabs, enable researchers of different disciplines to gain access and use each other’s data. A research project depending heavily on its success on multidisciplinary approach is the Sand Motor. The Sand Motor is an innovative method for coastal protection. The Sand Motor (also known as Sand Engine) is a huge volume of sand that has been applied along the coast of Zuid-Holland at Ter Heijde in 2011. Wind, waves and currents will spread the sand naturally along the coast of Zuid-Holland. The Sand Motor will gradually change in shape and will eventually be fully incorporated into the dunes and the beach. The construction of the Sand Motor was completed in November 2011. Now, the forces of nature will take over and spread the sand along the shore, thereby reinforcing the coastline and creating a dynamic area for nature and recreational purposes (source: http://www.dezandmotor.nl/en-GB/). To monitor the success of the Sand Motor, inter disciplinary sharing of research data is crucial. To make this data collaboration possible within the Sand Motor Monitoring projct, a new and innovative online environment was needed. The basis of this environment was the combination of the Open Earth software as designed by Deltares, together with the development of an online portal for storing, editing, sharing and visualisation of geo-related research information. This OpenEarth DataLab has been online since 1st of April 2014 and the project has been evaluated after complete delivery on the first of September 2014. In this presentation the first results of designing, building and working with the DataLab are presented.