CAMELS-PLUS: Enhancing Hydrological Data Through FAIR Innovations.

The CAMELS-PLUS initiative is revolutionizing the way hydrological, and Earth System Science (ESS) data are processed, shared, and utilized by enhancing the widely-used CAMELS-DE dataset. While Germany boasts one of the richest hydrological datasets globally, CAMELS-DE has faced challenges due to its reliance on fragmented, manual workflows, which are error-prone and hinder collaboration. CAMELS-PLUS introduces a groundbreaking solution: a standardized framework for containerized scientific tools that embed rich metadata, ensuring provenance, reusability, and seamless integration across diverse scientific domains.

A key innovation of CAMELS-PLUS lies in its ability to bridge the gap between disciplines by implementing a fully containerized pipeline for dataset pre-processing. This approach allows researchers in meteorology, forestry, and other ESS subdomains to easily contribute and extend CAMELS-DE without the complexity of navigating storage systems or inconsistent workflows. The initiative’s metadata schema, implemented as YAML files with JSON-based tool parameterization, enables tools to "speak the same language," ensuring they are interoperable and aligned with FAIR principles.

Key Deliverables:

• Updated CAMELS-DE Dataset: Incorporates new precipitation sources and enhanced metadata for seamless integration with the NFDI4Earth Knowledge Hub.
• Standardized Scientific Containers: A community-adopted specification for containerized tools, promoting accessibility and reusability across disciplines.
• Interactive Community Engagement: Extensions to camels-de.org, transforming it into a hub for exploring workflows and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

What makes CAMELS-PLUS particularly compelling is its potential to democratize access to cutting-edge hydrological datasets. By enabling non-specialists to contribute and utilize CAMELS-DE through intuitive, containerized workflows, the initiative reduces barriers to entry and accelerates innovation in data-driven hydrology and beyond. This project not only sets a new standard for dataset management in ESS but also creates a replicable model for tackling similar challenges across other scientific domains. CAMELS-PLUS is poised to inspire transformative changes in how large-sample datasets are curated, shared, and advanced for global scientific impact.