September 2019

EMODnet’s 2nd Open Sea Lab: a look back

With 70 participants from 19 nations, the second edition of EMODnet Open Sea Lab (OSLII) was a great success. OSLII captured the imagination in a way that few events in the marine data world can, which is largely due to the openness, creativity and enthusiasm of all of those involved.

In total, 16 teams competed for a prize, developing novel marine and maritime applications using EMODnet, ICES  and Copernicus Marine’s  wealth of marine data and services in just three days. The overall winner of Open Sea Lab 2019 was ‘Team Ilvo’ with the creation of an interactive fish stock assessment tool to allow non-specialists to understand and interpret fisheries data. The VLIZ and OVH awards went to ‘CODeFISH’ for their tool to provide near-future decision support for fisheries; and the Greenbridge award went to ‘Changing Seas’ for their educational augmented reality app to help families make responsible choices to protect their marine environment.

EMODnet would like to extend a huge thank you to co-organizers VLIZ, CMEMS and ICES, contributors IMEC, Marine at University Ghent, Greenbridge and OVH and funders EC and VLIZ. And last but not least, a big thank you to all who actively participated in this year’s Open Sea Lab, as participants, coaches, speakers and judges!

It seems that Open Sea Lab is something that will continue to grow into the future. EMODnet can now build on the outcomes of this year’s OSLII and the open, innovative and diverse spirit that it nurtures.
 

Read the full OSLII article!

Webcasts of the opening and closing sessions of Open Sea Lab can be found here http://www.opensealab.eu/

Speakers presentations are available via the programme http://www.opensealab.eu/programme2019

Team info can be found on the participants page http://www.opensealab.eu/participants and team demos will soon be available on GitHub

EMODnet coordinators meet at the Steering Committee and Technical Working Group

Updated EMODnet Data and Data Product Portfolio

   

Right on time for the OSLII, an updated version of the EMODnet Data and Data Product Portfolio was put online on the EMODnet Central Portal website, for free viewing and download. This version contains new and updated data products from a number of EMODnet thematic portals, which were published in 2019. New products include best-estimate European digital coastline from EMODnet Bathymetry, Submerged landscapes from EMODnet Geology, Marine litter maps from EMODnet Chemistry and updated products include Mineral occurrences from EMODnet Geology.

View the portfolio here

EMODnet represented at OceanObs‘19

 

On 16-20 September, experts from EMODnet and across the global ocean observation, monitoring and data communities gathered in Hawai’i for the decadal Conference OceanObs’19. EMODnet was represented by the EMODnet Secretariat, experts from EMODnet Bathymetry, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics and Data Ingestion Service, and Sea-basin Checkpoint Coordinators. European Commission DG MARE Head of Unit A1 Andreea Strachinescu also attended and spoke in the Closing session. EMODnet showcased its latest work in a EMODnet Community White Paper led by Bélen Martín Míguez and 30 other co-authors spanning all EMODnet portals and services.

On 20 September, OceanObs’19 released a Declaration to take stock and look forward to priorities for the next decade of ocean observing. Provision of open, free and FAIR data is central to this together with concerted efforts towards further integration, interoperability, information provision and innovation of ocean observing, modelling and data services. EMODnet looks forward to continuing its efforts to provide free, open access to standardized, integrated datasets from across European seas and oceans and beyond, turning data into useable products and in turn, supplying the marine knowledge value chain with relevant information for global society. OceanObs’19 and the upcoming UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is also an opportunity for EMODnet to contribute best practices to the international community and strengthen existing collaborations e.g. with CMEMS, ICES and build new partnerships with wider regional and International marine data services.

Read the full article on OceanObs19.

Track OO’19, as it happened, on twitter @EMODnet @OceanObs19 #OceanObs19

New EMODnet Human Activities blog: Where does our waste water go?

 

In the EU, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD; Council Directive 91/271/EEC) requires Member States to set up collecting and treatment systems for urban wastewaters. The Member States are required to monitor discharges from urban wastewater treatment as well as the amounts and composition of sludges disposed to surface waters. Based on data corresponding to year 2014, EMODnet Human Activities created two new geodatabases, one on urban wastewater treatment plants (Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants, UWWTPs) and one on discharge points.
 

View the new datasets related to Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
on the EMODnet Human Activities portal.

Welcome to new Associated Partner Sofar
 

Welcome to Sofar as the latest EMODnet Associated Partner! Sofar makes the Spotter wave buoy which introduced an affordable and convenient way to obtain high-quality wave data anywhere on the planet. Spotter can be set either as a free-floating platform or a moored station, sending wave statistics to an online dashboard and API without requiring any shore-based system.

The EMODnet Secretariat and network participants had the chance to meet Sofar at the OceanObs’19 Conference on 16-20 September. We look forward to more exchanges and welcome Sofar to the EMOD-network!

Become an EMODnet Associated Partner.