Metadata & Data

Overviews are compiled and maintained of available high resolution bathymetric survey data sets and of composite DTMs. A selection of these data sets is used internally with permission of the data owners for producing the EMODnet Digital Terrain Model (DTM) for the European sea regions. 

Bathymetric survey data: these are described by INSPIRE compliant metadata and included in the CDI Data Discovery and Access service as adopted and adapted for EMODnet Bathymetry from SeaDataNet, the leading network for marine data management in Europe.

CDI Data Discovery and Access service

Visit the CDI Data Discovery and Access service

Note: registration in the SeaDataNet User Register is required for requesting access to data sets! 

The CDI service gives users a highly detailed insight in the availability and geographical spreading of bathymetric survey data sets that are acquired and managed by an increasing group of data providers from government and research and for which users can request access for downloading. The CDI metadata are public domain and freely available for all users. However, most of the survey data sets are not freely available and require negotiation with the data owners. The SeaDataNet CDI search, shopping and tracking mechanism is applied for identifying and requesting access to these background data sets from data providers.

How does it work?
The process from search to getting access to requested data sets is illustrated and explained below. This allows users to retrieve data sets from the distributed data centres in a common way via one unique portal.

Order process // order-process-steps.png (38 K)
 
The CDI query interface enables to search by free text and/or a set of criteria from pull down mernu’s. The selected data sets are listed. Geographical locations are indicated on a map. Clicking on the display icon retrieves the full metadata of the data set. This gives information on the what, where, when, how, and who of the data set. It also gives standardised information on the data access restrictions, that apply. The interface features a shopping mechanism, by which selected data sets can be included in a shopping basket.

Banner register SDN user // banner-register-seadatanet-user.png (12 K)All users can freely query and browse in the CDI directory; however, submitting requests for data access via the shopping basket requires that users are registered in the SeaDataNet central user register (Marine-ID).

Data requests can concern unrestricted and/or restricted data sets. Requests for unrestricted data sets are processed and requested data sets are delivered from the SeaDataNet cloud buffer automatically. Requests for restricted data sets are forwarded to the managers of connected data centres for their consideration, most of the cases deliberating with the data originators. The processing of all data requests is controlled by the Request Status Manager (RSM) which is integrated in the CDI user interface. The RSM registers and processes all transactions, and communicates with the central data cloud, users, and data centres. Users receive a confirmation e-mail of their data set requests and a link to the MySeaDataNet section of the user interface which gives access to the RSM service. By log-in to the RSM service users can check regularly the status of their requests and download data sets. On their turn, data centres can follow via the RSM service all transactions for their data sets online and can handle requests which might require their mediation.


Composite DTMs:  these are described by INSPIRE compliant metadata and included in the Sextant Catalogue service. The EMODnet Digital Terrain Model is by preferrence based upon bathymetric survey data. However for a number of areas data providers have provided an alternative by contributing so-called composite DTMs which are then incorporated in the resulting EMODnet DTM.

Sextant Catalogue service

Visit the Sextant Catalogue service for Composite
DTMs (CPRD)

Important remark: the CDI and Sextant services deal with the survey data and composite DTMs that have been used as basis for the EMODnet Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the European marine regions. The DTM itself is available without any restriction from the Bathymetry Viewing and Download service.