Managing multi-layered geographic information to describe environmental monitoring and research sites using DEIMS-SDR

Providing information on the context of long-term measurements, i.e. the observation and research facilities where measurements were done, is key for re-using data generated for a defined area. This information is also needed to manage site networks of research infrastructures or research networks or to enable a link from in-situ measurements to earth observation. To cover these requirements, the Dynamic Ecological Information Management System – Site and Dataset Registry (DEIMS-SDR, https://www.deims.org/) allows the description of in-situ environmental observation or experimental sites implementing a multipurpose data model and generating persistent, unique and resolvable identifiers for each site. The aim of DEIMS-SDR is to collect site information in a catalogue describing a wide range of sites across the globe, providing information including each site's location, ecosystems, facilities, measured parameters and research themes and enabling that standardised information to be openly available. DEIMS-SDR currently stores over 1200 site records along a wide geographic, altitudinal and ecosystem gradient. To address research needs as well as to enhance interoperability and machine readability, the used site model has been revised and compared to existing de-facto standards resulting in a more modular structure.

The presentation describes the outcomes of the revision of the data model, the conceptual considerations behind it and how it is implemented. We illustrate the capabilities of the data model focussing on the description of multi-layered geographic information that is needed to accurately document sites and the various observation locations they might cover. This represents a major step forward in both the development of DEIMS-SDR as well as the interoperable and cross-disciplinary documentation of sites in general.