Making marine image data FAIR

Timm Schoening , Jennifer Durden , Claas Faber , Janine Felden (1, 2) , Karl Heger , Henk-Jan Hoving (3) , Rainer Kiko (4) , Kevin Köser , Christopher Krämmer , Tom Kwasnitschka , Klas Ove Möller , David Nakath , Andrea Naß , Tim Nattkemper , Autun Purser (5) , Martin Zurowietz

1 University of Bremen
2 AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
3 GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research [Kiel]
4 LOV - Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche
5 AWI - Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine

Abstract Underwater images are used to explore and monitor ocean habitats, generating huge datasets with unusual data characteristics that preclude traditional data management strategies. Due to the lack of universally adopted data standards, image data collected from the marine environment are increasing in heterogeneity, preventing objective comparison. The extraction of actionable information thus remains challenging, particularly for researchers not directly involved with the image data collection. Standardized formats and procedures are needed to enable sustainable image analysis and processing tools, as are solutions for image publication in long-term repositories to ascertain reuse of data. The FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) provide a framework for such data management goals. We propose the use of image FAIR Digital Objects (iFDOs) and present an infrastructure environment to create and exploit such FAIR digital objects. We show how these iFDOs can be created, validated, managed and stored, and which data associated with imagery should be curated. The goal is to reduce image management overheads while simultaneously creating visibility for image acquisition and publication efforts.

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Timm Schoening, Jennifer Durden, Claas Faber, Janine Felden, Karl Heger, et al.. Making marine image data FAIR. Scientific Data , 2022, 9 (1), pp.414. ⟨10.1038/s41597-022-01491-3⟩. ⟨hal-03956213⟩