1. Operational integration of biodiversity and physico-chemical data: experience at the BMDC Meerhaeghe A., De Cauwer K., Devolder M., Jans S., Scory S.

2. SMNS I as the catalyst of IDOD Analysis and design of the information system Data flow from originator to end user Integrated and Dynamical Oceanographic Data Management IDOD so far … Current projects to push IDOD to its limits Gilson’s collection Offshore wind farm Organigram of Mumm

3. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), is as part of the Belgian Federal Science Policy, a Federal State institution involved in important scientific research activities and carrying out public service missions The Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models and the Scheldt estuary (MUMM), is a department of RBINS. MUMM adopts a 'triple M' strategy: Monitoring, Modelling and Management Belgian Federal Science Policy, has his mission in the preparation, execution and evaluation of science policy and its extensions and the development of a permanent knowledge resource within scientific and technical spheres at the service of the Federal Authority The Belgian Marine Data Centre, is a group of scientists within MUMM, whose expertise is oriented towards the management and the analysis of marine environmental data. Hosting currently two online databases IDOD (Integrated and Dynamical Oceanographic Data Management) and ODAS (Oceanographic Data Acquisition System) and different research programmes like Revamp and SPSD I and II 1 / 7

4. IDOD 17 projects and 31 scientific teams 1982 1978 1986 1990 1994199820001974 1970 MONITORING DATA (national, OSPAR,...) ARCImpulse SMNS I SEA 2002 SMNS II Revamp ODAS 2004 National Scientific programmes and other projects 23 projects and 62 scientific teams SMNS I as the catalyst of IDOD Conditions: Coherent data set with high quality design and well documented Safe storage of data for future research (new analysis techniques) Performant analysis tools Objectives: To provide structured, homogenized and validated oceanographic data necessary for any scientific research, decision making and sustainable development To establish, manage and promote an integrated database of marine environmental data, ensuring a smooth and scientifically sound data flow between the data producers and the end-users 2 / 7

5. Analysis and design of the information system Inventory of existing datasets and databases Data types collected in the frame of the programme Synthesis of valuable and reproducible metadata Methodology and protocols to differentiate and characterize different parameters and data types Validation rules and control charts to keep track of the data flow Detailed entities relationship model From object oriented database to service oriented information system 3 / 7

6. Data flow from originator to end user QC: Standardized data transfer and normalization procedures Validation rules and quality control Verification of data integrity SQC: Combination of distribution, regression and interpolation tests resulting in a value of probability stored with the original value 4 / 7

7. Integrated and Dynamical Oceanographic Data Management Different datasets originating from different research laboratories Validation through RDBMS stored at the BMDC accessible through the internet Different data types share a common metadata structure without loosing their specific characteristics Registered users can query the validated data online 5 / 7

8. IDOD so far … Amount of data imported between May 2001 and July 2004 Further improve online accessibility through … XML …and many more 6 / 7

9. 1900 - 19082004 - 2005 Gilson’s collection Constituted between 1899 and 1910 to better understand the relationship between marine organisms and their environment. A total of 14000 sampling events, 3000 for sediment point-samplings sequentially with 1100 benthos dredge-track-samplings Revalidate sampling information, evaluate the geographic precision and analysis of sediment information stored at the RBINS reaches his end. Fitting historic samples for incorporation into information systems and current quality standard requirements is at hand. A century later we are near to Gilson his original goal: build a map of benthic habitats and superimpose species distribution as well as species associations maps

10. 2004 - 20261900 - 1904 Offshore wind farm C-Power Ltd. far shore wind farm project on the Thornton sandbank. 60 Turbines of 3.6 MW with an estimated production of 710 GWh/year Distance to coast 27 km, depth 6-20 m, surface wind farm area 26.4 km² Monitoring: - Sediment and hydrodynamics - Noise and vibrations - Meteorological conditions - Benthos and fishes - - Bird migration, staging, and collision - Marine mammals - Electromagnetic fields - Visual aspects - The project will result in a large dataset with long-term data with high spatial resolution to analyze the environmental effects of the construction of a wind farm on the ‘Thornton’ sandbank, using the BACI -Before After Control Impact – design.

11. Most important achievements of the BMDC crew in 2004 Hasse Aloïs Litse http://www.mumm.ac.be/datacentre