SeaVOx (SeaDataNet, MarineXML)
Source: Roy Lowry, SeaVoX
The need for standardised terms describing marine sample collectors and data production tools (termed ‘devices’ for convenience) has been recognised in several quarters. The EU SeaDataNet project found many different ways to describe devices, including free text, in its legacy discovery metadata. One would be much better. The need for vocabularies to populate fields in OGC SensorML records has been demonstrated by list postings and a clear statement in the MMI Sensor Metadata Interoperability Workshop report. A general need such as this is best addressed by a collaborative approach. Consequently, it was agreed to bring together parallel efforts by MMI and SeaVoX (a collaboration between SeaDataNet and the IOC MarineXML Steering Group) in a community project to build a ‘devices ontology’.
The basic approach we've agreed is that SeaVoX will look at the problem from the 'bottom-up' perspective whilst MMI will take more of a 'top-down' approach looking at developing a classification network through community input. MMI interest/expertise is mainly in in-situ sensors whereas SeaDataNet metadata requires a much broader view taking in samplers and laboratory instruments as well as in-situ and remote sensors. Consequently, a natural division of labour into areas of interest by subject should develop. Initial work within the SeaDataNet community will be to rationalise lists of terms used to describe groups of devices at various levels of granularity - there are at least five of these in BODC alone. This will serve SeaDataNet operational requirements in the short-term but will also be one of the inputs into the MMI community information resource. Once this is done an effort will be made to use the resources of the SeaDataNet partnership to build a low level device catalogue (manufacturer/model number level) of devices.
Communication is the key to making this work and will be based on the well-proven MMI formula of a dedicated e-mail list, a collaborative web site and regular telecoms. Other mutually accessible collaborative tools, such as Trac and subversion, will also be investigated to see if they can enhance the development process.
