Introduction Project Objectives Phasing and time-schedule of the EUMARSIN Project Project Partners Methodology Partners' Responsibilities Introduction The European Marine Sediment Information Network (EUMARSIN) project was established in November 1998 with the support of the European Commission Marine Science and Technology (MAST) programme of the fourth framework programme. During the project, the 16 partner organisations developed a public-domain meta-database network, designed to give wide access to information already obtained from their work in the European Seas, but which had not been fully integrated into a single European system. The information was based on the marine sediment meta-data banks of the Geological Surveys of the EU countries and Norway, which intitial estimates considered to represent about 140,000 sample points. The meta-database consists of sedimentological, bathymetric and analytical data, e.g. geochemical analyses, which will enable first approach studies for a wide variety of users. Users are able to access information concerning the nature and quality of seabed sediments by identifying the sources where the required data are stored.   Project Objectives The project objectives were: To formulate and put into use an acceptable set of terms of reference for the marine sediments held by organisations and institutions in the EU countries To develop the marine sediment data and their geochemical, sedimentological and bathymetric analyses into meta-data banks and to organise a system for disseminating these data products to potential users To make available, international sea-bed surface maps of the European Seas that will include a classification of sea-bed surface material, bathymetric isolines and locations of available datasets related to the meta-database To concert the meta-databanks with other data management procedures that have been applied to European and international projects carried out in the European Seas To develop and apply with the aid of the latest software technology and a promotion and marketing campaign an information infrastructure that will: Establish an electronic information exchange between the project partners, in order to manage and maintain the EUMARSIN operation and services Develop and distribute the meta-data through a CD-ROM, and on the Internet through a World Wide Web site, to EU institutions, decision-makers, the public sector, scientists and technologists and private sector businesses. Phasing and time-schedule of the EUMARSIN Project The EUMARSIN project was carried out in three phases over a period of 24 months from November 1998 to October 2000: A data modelling and harmonisation phase A software application phase An implementation and exploitation phase including a public launch of the EUMARSIN system and products. Time-Schedule Year 1998 1999 2000 Month N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N   Data-Inventory Data-Collection X X X X X X                                       Data-Conversion             X X X X X X X X X                     Data-Transfer to MARIS                     X X X X X X                   Data-Quality Control                       X X X X X X                                                                     System Development                                                   Meta-Databases             X X X X X X X X X X                   Loading of Meta-Databases                               X X X X             EUMARSIN-Web-site     X X X                   X X X X X X X X X     CD-ROM                                 X X X X X X X X   Methodology The methodology that was used followed these steps: A data file system was developed, which contained an inventory of the marine sediment data held by the project partners. An index of the existing public domain data structure and the requirements for input to the meta-database was compiled. A terminology and format for the meta-data was agreed in. The essential data included: owner of material sample number date of sampling geographic positioning mode of sampling core length (in case of cores) analyses carried out to date and sub-sample depth water depth references See metadata page... Compilation of digital maps of the European Seas as a reference to the position of seabed samples and to facilitate geographical queries. Partners' Responsibilities COUNTRY NAME OF PARTNER SURVEY DEPARTMENT ROLE GREECE (Gr) IGME MARINE GEOLOGY Partner: Project Co-ordinator: Chair Steering Committee: Data Supplier GREAT BRITAIN (GB) BGS MARINE GEOLOGY Partner: Steering Committee Member: Data Supplier, Some datamanagement tasks FRANCE (FR) BRGM MARINE GEOLOGY Partner: Steering Committee Member: Data Supplier NORWAY (NO) NGU MARINE GEOLOGY Partner: Steering Committee Member: Data Supplier BELGIUM (BE) EUROGEOSURVEYS EURO ASSOCIATION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS Partner: Steering Committee Member NETHERLANDS (NL) MARIS INFORMATION SERVICE Partner: Steering Committee Member: Supplier of software technology. Data Manager FINLAND (FI) GTK MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier SWEDEN (SE) SGU MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier DENMARK (DK) GEUS MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier NETHERLANDS (NL) NITG-TNO MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier BELGIUM (BE) GSB MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier SPAIN (ES) IGME MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier PORTUGAL (PT) IGM MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier GERMANY (D) BGR-NLFB MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier IRELAND (IRL) GSI MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier ITALY (I) APAT MARINE GEOLOGY Partner - Data Supplier Areas of responsibility and links between partners Steering Committee Member Responsible for links with Regional subdivision CO-ORDINATION Greece Italy Eastern Mediterranean EUMARSIN Project Coordinator. Chair, National Representatives Committee UK The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Ireland North Sea, North-east Atlantic Technical Advisory Task Group. France Spain, Portugal Eastern Atlantic, Western Mediterranean   Norway Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea   EuroGeoSurveys     Promotion and Marketing Task Group MARIS all partners all areas