Long-term sustainability of a distributed RI: the EPOS case

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS) is a distributed research infrastructure (RI) with the mission to establish and maintain sustainable and long-term access to solid Earth science data and services by integrating the diverse national research infrastructures under a common federated framework governed by EPOS ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). This paper presents the EPOS approach to ensure financial viability and to tackle the challenge of long-term sustainability of the RI during its operational phase. The EPOS approach to sustainable operation considers the scientific impact and the promotion of scientific research as the preconditions to achieve long-term sustainability. Enabling scientific excellence implies that high-quality data and services are provided reliably and continuously to establish the RI as the enabler of investigations to solid Earth scientists. The strategic approach and the solutions adopted by EPOS ERIC to address the long-term sustainability of a pan-European distributed RI are discussed in this paper focusing on the governance structure, considered as the qualifying dimension that gathers and connects the financial, legal and technical dimensions. The governance and the financial models are discussed to delineate the legal framework necessary to operate the EPOS RI relying on the implemented technical solutions. A sufficiently stable investment environment is necessary to allow the RI to concentrate on providing high quality services for their user communities. This paper discusses the current actions and challenges to be addressed for achieving this goal.publishedVersio

Data Management in Distributed, Federated Research Infrastructures: The Case of EPOS

Data management is a key activity when Open Data stewardship through services complying with the FAIR principles is required, as it happens in many National and European initiatives. Existing guidelines and tools facilitate the drafting of Data Management Plans by focusing on a set of common parameters or questions. In this paper we describe how data management is carried out in EPOS, the European Research Infrastructure for providing access to integrated data and services in the solid Earth domain. EPOS relies on a federated model and is committed to remain operational in the long term. In EPOS, five key dimensions were identified for the Federated Data Management, namely the management of: thematic data; e-infrastructure for data integration; community of data providers committed to data provision processes; sustainability; and policies. On the basis of the EPOS experience, which is to some extent applicable to other research infrastructures, we propose additional components that may extend the EU Horizon 2020 Data Management Guidelines template, thus comprehensively addressing the Federated Data Management in the context of distributed Research Infrastructures

Analysis of tourism in Campania as a tool for the development of high-quality cultural services for sightseers: The “Reale Osservatorio Vesuviano” case history

The purpose of this work is to identify the guidelines for the development and diversification of the cultural touristic offer achievable at the Reale Osservatorio Vesuviano (ROV). Founded in 1841, it is the oldest volcano observatory in the world and it has always had the vocation for scientific-naturalistic and formative tourism. The present study investigates the connections between the sociology of tourism and the ROV’s sustainability and competitiveness as a tourist destination. Here it is performed a study of the tourist flow, based on the sociology of tourism and on the correct processing of data sets, distinguishing the ''statistical information on tourism" from "tourism statistics", as such a study is the basis of a proper market strategy in different sectors. Tourism remains, in fact, an important phenomenon in world economy: despite the economic crisis of recent years, international tourist arrivals show a positive development of the trend in all the major sub-areas into which the large international areas are traditionally divided. The principles for a future marketing plan were outlined after collecting all the relevant information. The plan was designed to enhance the overall touristic offer of the ROV, never ceasing to consider the integration of natural- scientific aspects and cultural events to be offered within the observatory itself.Published64-872TM. Divulgazione Scientifica6TM. Poli Museali1VV. AltroN/A or not JC

Stakeholders Analysis: a Crucial Step for a Successful Volcanic Hazard Assessment, Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Management Strategy

WP6 of MED-SUV aims at showing how the improvement of the monitoring system at the Italian Supersite volcanoes may contribute to better volcanic hazard assessment and to bridge the gap between science, mitigation and preparedness of volcanic disasters. For the purposes, throughout the project scientists and decision makers are working together trying to optimise procedures for improvement their mutual information exchange. To do this effectively and efficiently a management strategy needs to be defined and implemented in order to involve the key players and make them aware of the policy, sector and institutional context within which they are undertaking their work. Stakeholders Analysis is a crucial step to achieve specific objectives related to volcanic hazard assessment, evaluation, and preparedness and mitigation. Indeed management and science are interdependent so WP1 and WP6 need to strength their efforts in setting up a proper joint strategy to identify the different stakeholders, understand their needs, and to investigate their respective roles, resources, and capacities. Stakeholders Analysis, in fact, will enable us getting an overall view of what is needed to implement actions devoted to volcanic hazards by allowing us definition of proper guidelines to clearly define the role of scientists and that of decision makers during a volcanic emergency. Guidelines will state also the kinds of information the scientists should provide to decision makers in term of both short- and long-term hazard assessment. In this prospective, we expect that findings of the analysis will ensure that the resources available in the framework of MED-SUV are appropriately targeted to meet the objectives of the project and its stakeholders. We believe that Stakeholders Analysis, in compliance with EPOS implementation plan, could significantly contribute to the “Information for Societal Benefit” part of the GEO 2012-15 work plan at which MED-SUV has subscribed

Smart working nell’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia: quadro normativo, analisi del contesto lavorativoe organizzativo, obiettivi specifici, proposte organizzative e amministrative

oro Agile o come lo indicheremo di seguito in questo documento lo “Smart Working”, si inserisce in uno scenario di sensibilizzazione e di cambiamento nel settore pubblico e privato con un nuovo approccio manageriale volto a favorire e promuovere flessibilità e autonomia nella scelta degli spazi, degli orari degli strumenti da utilizzare e delle modalità operative, a fronte di una maggiore responsabilizzazione dei risultati: è l’evoluzione digitale l’elemento trainante di questo cambiamento. In conformità con la definizione normativa italiana degli anni 2015-2017, il gruppo di lavoro sullo Smart Working del Comitato Unico di Garanzia (CUG) dell’INGV ha lavorato alla stesura di questo Documento per stimolare e coadiuvare l’Amministrazione nel definire le modalità di attuazione dello Smart Working in un ente di ricerca come l’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, seguendo le proposte metodologiche della Direttiva della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (PCM) n. 3/2017.Dall’analisi dell’organizzazione dell’Ente e del suo personale ma soprattutto grazie ad una indagine somministrata a tutti i dipendenti, si vogliono qui definire proposte metodologiche attraverso indicazioni operative per l’attivazione immediata dello Smart Working presso l’INGV.Published1-561VV. AltroN/A or not JC

Moving towards EPOS ERIC: Integration of the legal, governance and financial framework

EPOS - the European Plate Observing System - is the ESFRI infrastructure serving the need of the solid Earth science community at large. The EPOS mission is to create a single sustainable, and distributed infrastructure that integrates the diverse European Research Infrastructures (RI) for solid Earth science under a common framework. Thematic Core Services (TCS) and Integrated Core Services (Central Hub, ICS-C and Distributed, ICS-D) are key elements, together with NRIs (National Research Infrastructures), in the EPOS architecture. After having successfully passed the first stage, EPOS is now submitting Step 2 for the implementation of an ERIC legal framework (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). The statutory seat of EPOS will be in Rome, Italy, while the ICS-C will be jointly operated by UK, France and Denmark. The TCS planned so far cover: seismology, near-fault observatories, GNSS data and products, volcano observations, satellite data, geomagnetic observations, anthropogenic hazards, geological information modelling, multiscale laboratories and geo-energy test beds for low carbon energy. In the ERIC process, EPOS and all its services must achieve sustainability from a legal, governance, financial, and technical point of view, as well as full harmonization with national infrastructure roadmaps. As EPOS is a distributed infrastructure, the TCSs have to be linked to the future EPOS ERIC from legal and governance perspectives. For this purpose the TCSs are now finalizing their internal governance and relations with the scientific community and the data providers. The next step is now to draft service contracts between EPOS ERIC and the service providers, as this will be the mechanism regulating the provision of validated services. The first validation round, covering a subset of services, will be completed in the autumn of 2018. A common EPOS data policy has also been endorsed, based on the general principles of Open Access and paying careful attention to licensing issues, quality control, and intellectual property rights, which shall apply to the data, data products, software and services (DDSS) accessible through EPOS. EPOS has also an approved business plan relying on cash contributions by the ERIC members as well as in-kind contributions provided at national level. Globally, these contributions will cover the costs for running the EPOS ERIC executive office, the ICS, and the services associated to the TCS. For the latter, a detailed service cost-book is in place, which covers the services linked to the DDSS but also services associated to governance, coordination, outreach, and trans-national access. In the EPOS multi-disciplinary environment, harmonization and integration are required at different levels and with a variety of different stakeholders; to this purpose, a Service Coordination Board (SCB) and technical Harmonization Groups (HGs) were established to develop the EPOS metadata standards with the EPOS Integrated Central Services, and to harmonize data and product standards with other projects at European and international level, including e.g. ENVRI+, EUDAT and EarthCube (US).ISSN:1029-7006ISSN:1607-796

Setting the stage for the EPOS ERIC: Integration of the legal, governance and financial framework

EPOS – the European Plate Observing System – is the ESFRI infrastructure serving the need of the solid Earth science community at large. The EPOS mission is to create a single sustainable, and distributed infrastructure that integrates the diverse European Research Infrastructures for solid Earth science under a common framework. Thematic Core Services (TCS) and Integrated Core Services (Central Hub, ICS-C and Distributed, ICS-D) are key elements, together with NRIs (National Research Infrastructures), in the EPOS architecture. Following the preparatory phase, EPOS has initiated formal steps to adopt an ERIC legal framework (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). The statutory seat of EPOS will be in Rome, Italy, while the ICS-C will be jointly operated by France, UK and Denmark. The TCS planned so far cover: seismology, near-fault observatories, GNSS data and products, volcano observations, satellite data, geomagnetic observations, anthropogenic hazards, geological information modelling, multiscale laboratories and geo-energy test beds for low carbon energy. In the ERIC process, EPOS and all its services must achieve sustainability from a legal, governance, financial, and technical point of view, as well as full harmonization with national infrastructure roadmaps. As EPOS is a distributed infrastructure, the TCSs have to be linked to the future EPOS ERIC from legal and governance perspectives. For this purpose the TCSs have started to organize themselves as consortia and negotiate agreements to define the roles of the different actors in the consortium as well as their commitment to contribute to the EPOS activities. The link to the EPOS ERIC shall be made by service agreements of dedicated Service Providers. A common EPOS data policy has also been developed, based on the general principles of Open Access and paying careful attention to licensing issues, quality control, and intellectual property rights, which shall apply to the data, data products, software and services (DDSS) accessible through EPOS. From a financial standpoint, EPOS elaborated common guidelines for all institutions providing services, and selected a costing model and funding approach which foresees a mixed support of the services via national contributions and ERIC membership fees. In the EPOS multi-disciplinary environment, harmonization and integration are required at different levels and with a variety of different stakeholders; to this purpose, a Service Coordination Board (SCB) and technical Harmonization Groups (HGs) were established to develop the EPOS metadata standards with the EPOS Integrated Central Services, and to harmonize data and product standards with other projects at European and international level, including e.g. ENVRI+, EUDAT and EarthCube (US).ISSN:1029-7006ISSN:1607-796

The implementation of the Open Access paradigm to the EC-FP7 MED-SUV (Mediterranean Supersite Volcanoes) project

Trabajo presentado en la EGU General Assembly 2016 (European Geosciences Union), celebrada en Viena del 17 al 22 de abril de 2016.The overall goal of the EC-FP7 Mediterranean Supersite Volcanoes (MED-SUV) project is to apply the rationale of the Supersites GEO initiative to Campi Flegrei/Vesuvius and Mt. Etna to reduce the volcanic risk, by improving the understanding of the underlying geophysical processes, through the integration and sharing of the in-situ and Earth Observation (EO) data sets and the implementation of new instruments and monitoring systems. The project involves 24 EU and no-EU partners, including research and academic institutions, space agencies and SMEs. In this framework, the application of the Open Access paradigm has offered the opportunity to study and apply practical solutions concerning the data management (i.e. data polices, foreground exploitation and sustainability), intellectual property rights (i.e. ownership, licences, agreements) and technical issues (i.e. design and implementation of an interoperability e-infrastructure, access systems, etc.). This contribution presents pro and cons encountered in the project, as well as the main outcomes of the implementation of the Open Access to the Italian Supersites. This experience will be exploited in the building of international research infrastructures, such as EPOS, and the outcomes of the project will contribute to foster the Open Access to the research data in a wide context, as the GEO-GEOSS framework.Peer reviewe

Long-term sustainability of a distributed RI: the EPOS case

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS) is a distributed research infrastructure (RI) with the mission to establish and maintain sustainable and long-term access to solid Earth science data and services by integrating the diverse national research infrastructures under a common federated framework governed by EPOS ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). This paper presents the EPOS approach to ensure financial viability and to tackle the challenge of long-term sustainability of the RI during its operational phase. The EPOS approach to sustainable operation considers the scientific impact and the promotion of scientific research as the preconditions to achieve long-term sustainability. Enabling scientific excellence implies that high-quality data and services are provided reliably and continuously to establish the RI as the enabler of investigations to solid Earth scientists. The strategic approach and the solutions adopted by EPOS ERIC to address the long-term sustainability of a pan-European distributed RI are discussed in this paper focusing on the governance structure, considered as the qualifying dimension that gathers and connects the financial, legal and technical dimensions. The governance and the financial models are discussed to delineate the legal framework necessary to operate the EPOS RI relying on the implemented technical solutions. A sufficiently stable investment environment is necessary to allow the RI to concentrate on providing high quality services for their user communities. This paper discusses the current actions and challenges to be addressed for achieving this goal.ISSN:1593-521