SeaDataNet

SeaDataNet (http://www.seadatanet.org/) is an infrastructure, which interconnects the National Oceanographic Data Centers and marine data focal points from 35 countries around European seas. These data centers are part
of major and leading marine research institutes in these countries and have a long-term
perspective. This implicates that the SeaDataNet infrastructure also has a long-term perspective
as an operational and well embedded network of centers and systems. The SeaDataNet project
has a five year funding from the EU and is used to develop common protocols, standards and
software modules and to develop and populate joint metadatabases and data access portals.

SeaDataNet is a multi-year activity. In terms of OGC standards, Version 1: from February 2008 onwards: Users can search and browse in common metadatabases including geographical interface (OGC compliant) and then request access to data by downloading services via a common shopping mechanism annex download manager. The
central tool will arrange that requests are distributed to the data centers and that the data sets are
provided for downloading by a common interface and in common formats. The metadatabases
will also be available as Web services for feeding local and regional portals. All metadata are
compliant to the ISO 19115 metadata standard. The ODV package has a seamless connection to
SeaDataNet output formats.

In the coming years the SeaDataNet infrastructure will be extended into Version 2 with a further development of :

* Viewing services = Quick views and Visualisation of data and data products
* Product services = Generic and standard products

For the viewing services the OGC standards will be adopted, comprising Web Map Services (WMS), Web Feature Services (WFS) and Web Coverage Services (WCS). These will support the quick viewing and visualization of data sets and data products.