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