REPORT OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DATA EXCHANGE

                                                                                                                             

 

The meeting of the Technical Committee on Data Exchange was held from 14:30 – 18:30 hours on October 12, 2003.  The Chairman, Dr. Igor Shevchenko, called the meeting to order and welcomed the participants (TCODE Endnote 1).  The Committee reviewed the draft agenda and it was adopted with modifications as provided (TCODE Endnote 2).

 

Agenda Item 3.          Progress on items in the 2002/2003 Workplan

a) Joint WG 15/TCODE workshop on Harmful algal blooms - harmonization of data

Various TCODE members reported on the successful workshop (W3), convened by Hee-Dong Jeong (Korea) and Vera Trainer (USA).  Various existing database activities were reviewed and discussed.  There was an extensive discussion of the challenges to sharing of HAB data in various PICES countries. The group agreed to work together to complete the ICES-IOC HAB Metadatabase for a single year  to further explore the strengths and limitations of this approach.

 

b) TCODE-GLOBEC cooperation on data management

No progress made on this item. Changes in staff in the GLOBEC International Programme office (Plymouth, UK) have stalled this activity.

c) Expansion of the Bering Sea Metadata base to cover the North Pacific.
Bern Megrey and Allen Macklin reported on the transformation of the Bering Sea Metadatabase to the North Pacific Ecosystem Metadatabase (http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/np/mdb/index.html) and demonstrated the search capabilities of this database. There was extensive discussion on how best to maintain the data inventory records and how to encourage both usage and additional contributions.  The developers also described the potential of “federated search” capabilities, which would allow one to search metadata records from separate databases from a single application (NPEM).  They will be attempting  this with  the Korean Oceanographic Data Center (KODC) as a demonstration and requested names of key contacts in other PICES data management centres to expand this capability.

d) Metadata key list for North Pacific Ecosystem Metadatabase.

Bern Megrey and Allen Macklin reported on their effort to assemble a suitable list of keywords for the North Pacific Ecosystem Metadatabase. Very little feedback was received from PICES members on the proposed list.  The lack of a “hierarchy” to the keyword list made it difficult for prospective users to comment on the keyword list. The Committee recommended that the keyword list (as circulated) be implemented, recognizing that additional keyword could be added with little effort, if required.

 

e) Electronic Poster Session for PICES XII.

Bern Megrey reported on the number and themes of the presentations and on venue of the session.

 

f) Updating inventory of long term data sources for the North Pacific

Robin Brown and Igor Shevchenko reported on the limited progress made on this item (http://tcode.tinro.ru/invent.html).

g)     Web pages for other data management resources (real-time data; data visualization and analysis tools; data exchange policies of PICES nations).

Tom Royer and Igor Shevchenko reported limited progress on this item.  Dr. Shevchenko noted that much of this information could be extracted from annual reports from TCODE Members, using the content model that he provided.

h) Review of TCODE Strategic Plan

Robin Brown and Igor Shevchenko briefly reviewed the draft TCODE Strategic Plan (http://tcode.tinro.ru/sp.html). Committee members were asked to provide comments and feedback to the Chairman.

 

Agenda Item 4.          Annual Reports on Data Management Activities in PICES member countries

Several presentations were received on activities in PICES nations.

Canada

Robin Brown presented a short report outlining agencies and data centres with holdings of oceanographic, fisheries and meteorological data.  Mr. Brown also reported on new initiatives in cabled ocean observatories (VENUS and NEPTUNE) that will require advanced data management and archival systems.

China

(no report; no members present)

Japan

Muneharu Tokimura reported on restructuring of the Japanese Fisheries Research Agency (FRA) and implications for data management and archival. Several initiatives in the assembly of fisheries and biological data, with plans for creating open databases with internet access were reviewed. 

Korea

Mr. Hae Seok Kang reported on the activities and responsibilities of the Korean Oceanographic Data Centre.

Russia

Igor Shevchenko reported on data management activities and agencies in Russia using the recommended pattern for the annual reports;

United States

Tom Royer reported on activities of the EVOS/GEM and North Pacific Research Board in establishing ocean observing systems.

 

All reports will be posted on the TCODE web page.

Agenda Item 5.          Discussions of North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report

The Committee had a short discussion on the NPESR. Comments and feedback are due to the mid of November.

 

Agenda Item 6.          Discussions of report from Study Group on PICES Strategic Issues

The Committee had a short discussion on this. Comments and feedback are due to the mid of November.

Agenda Item 7.          Discussions of report from Study Group on PICES Capacity Building

 The Committee had a short discussion on this. Comments and feedback are due to the mid of November.

Agenda Item 8.          Discussion of steps towards next major PICES scientific program(s)

Ian Perry provided a background for this topic. The Committee had a short discussion on this. No particular proposals were indicated.

Agenda Item 9.          Topic session proposals for PICES XIII

 

TCODE recommends an Electronic Poster Session for PICES XIII (Honolulu)  

Title: Data Visualization of Open Ocean Processes

Conveners: Tom Royer plus a local convenor to be identified 

Justification:

In concern with the PICES XIII theme of open ocean processes, TCODE proposes to conduct an electronic poster session entitled “Data Visualization of Open Ocean Processes in the North Pacific”. Remotely sensed data such as Topex/Poseidon altimeter, SeaWiFS ocean color, and sea surface temperature measurements are expected to be included. Demonstrations of software techniques to animate these data are being encouraged. Techniques of data retrieval and archiving are welcome.  Integration of remotely sensed physical, biological and/or chemical data are solicited especially with regard to oceanic “hot spots” of biological activity. 

Agenda Item 10.        PICES XIV (Russia) Theme

This item was discussed but there were no recommendations forwarded

 

Agenda Item 11.        Summary of items with financial implications

TCODE requests travel support to send a PICES Data Management expert (Dr. Georgiy Moiseenko, Russian Federal Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography) to a meeting of ICES-IOC Study Group on the Development of Marine Data Exchange Systems Using XML in Brussels. Dr. Moiseenko will report back to TCODE on the findings of this working group.

Agenda Item 12.        New Business – Items added to agenda

o      New PICES Web Pages

Julia Yazvenko from the PICES Secretariat presented an outline of the new PICES web site and invited comments.

o      WG 17 report

Robin Brown reported on the work of WG 17. This group has their own web site (http://wg17.pices.jp/) with links to the PICNIC (PICES Carbon Dioxide Related Data Integration for the North Pacific) web site (http://picnic.pices.jp/) developed by MIRC, in association with WG17 and TCODE.

o      Joint TCODE /WG 15 Workshop (W3) on HAB 

Vera Trainer reported on the workshop and outlined plans for a follow-up HAB Database Workshop at PICES XIII.

o      MONITOR Task Team Report (Dr. Sei-ichi Saitoh)

Dr. Sei-ichi Saitoh reported on the MONITOR Task Team Workshop. This workshop identified important datasets on high seas distributions of fish and plankton that are held by Hokkaido University.  These datasets will be digitized and produced on CD-ROM.  TCODE assistance is sought to aid in the distribution of these data and to ensure they are listed in the appropriate data inventories.  MONITOR agreed to assist in the identification of important long term datasets for the TCODE inventory.

 

Agenda Item 13.        Discussion and adoption of the TCODE Workplan for 2003/2004

1)     TCODE Members to work with WG 15 members to complete entries for HAB events in PICES nations into the ICES-IOC HAB Meta database for a single year. In addition, TCODE will work with WG15 to add entries to the TCODE Inventory of data sources that describe HAB data sources in PICES countries and ensure appropriate HAB data sources are identified in the NPEM.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown

2)     TCODE Chairman to contact new Data Manager at GLOBEC IPO and re-establish plans for creating an inventory of PICES GLOBEC data.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko

3)     North Pacific Ecosystem Metadatabase

a.      Prepare PICES Press article

Responsibility - Bernard Megrey and Allen Macklin

b.     Implement keyword list -      

Responsibility – Bernard Megrey and Allen Macklin

c.      Link to TCODE web page

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko

d.     Update existing records and add new records

           Responsibility – ALL (assistance of MONITOR Task Team also)

e.      Identify key contacts for “federated search” -                                 Responsibility – ALL

4)     Update TCODE web pages (real –time data sources, data visualization and analysis tools; data exchange policies of PICES nations)

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko to update web pages; ALL TCODE Members to provide input

 

5)     Organize Electronic Poster Session for PICES XIII (Honolulu)

Responsibility – Thomas Royer (U.S.) and a local Hawaiian representative

6)     Work with PICES Secretariat to link TCODE web site to new PICES home page

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and the Secretariat


 

TCODE Endnote 1

Participation List

 Members:

 

 Canada

Robin Brown

Greg Steer (absent)

 

China

Ling Tong (absent)

Ruguang Yin (absent)

(no participants)

 

 Japan

Satoshi Sato (absent)

Muneharu Tokimura

 

 Korea

Hae Seok Kang

 

 Russia

Georgiy Moiseenko

Igor Shevchenko

 

 

 U.S.A

Bernard Megrey

Thomas Royer

 

 Observers:

 

 Japan

Toru Suzuki

Yutaka Nagata

 

  Korea

Sung-Dae Kim

Hee-Dong Jeong

  

 U.S.A

Allen Macklin 

 

 
T
CODE Endnote 2

PICES Twelfth Annual Meeting
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sunday, October 12 (
14:30-18:30)

Agenda

1.   Welcome and introduction of members

 

2.   Adoption of agenda (opportunity to add agenda items under “New business”)

 

3.   Review progress on items in the 2002/2003 Workplan

·       Joint WG 15/TCODE workshop on Harmful algal blooms - harmonization of data [Hee-Dong Jeong]

·       TCODE-GLOBEC cooperation [Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown]

·       Expansion of the Bering Sea Metadata base to cover the North Pacific [Bernard Megrey]

·       Metadata key list [Bernard Megrey  and Allen Macklin]

·       Electronic Poster Session for PICES XII [Bernard Megrey and Sung-Dae Kim]

·       Updating inventory of real-time data sources for the North Pacific [Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown]

·       Updating web pages for [Tom Royer and Igor Shevchenko]

o      links to real time and quasi-real time data for the North Pacific,

o      computer software for the display (visualization) and analysis of data (using the existing inventory of software tools available for marine science),

o      description of inter and intra data exchange policies in PICES Nations.

·       TCODE Strategic Plan [Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown]

 

4.   Annual reports on data management activities in PICES member countries

 

5.   Discussion of North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report

 

6.   Discussion of report from Study Group on PICES Strategic Issues

 

7.   Discussion of report from Study Group on PICES Capacity Building

 

8.   Discussion of steps towards next major PICES scientific program(s)

                                                                                              

9.   Topic session proposals for PICES XIII

 

10. PICES XIV theme

 

11. Summary of items with financial implications:

  1. Proposed inter-sessional meetings for 2004 and beyond
  2. Proposed publications for 2004 and beyond,
  3. Travel support requests,
  4. Other items.

 

12. New business (additional items added at the meeting).

 

13. Discussion and adoption of the TCODE Workplan for 2003/2004