Objectives
The central objective of the EDIOS directory is to include and to present information on all European ocean-observing systems (sites and devices) in routine and repeated operation.

Yet during the EDIOS project phase several objectives had to be satisfied to realise a complete as possible directory of the European Observing Systems at the start of the EDIOS directory service, which was launched 1st October 2004:

  • Information gathering (by project partners) on all European ocean-observing systems currently in repeated and routine use (stations, sections, repeated ship-borne measurements, buoys, platforms, remote imagery, etc.), their geographical location, characteristics and frequency of observations, and data-holding archives, and transfer this information into an internet-based searchable directory (metadatabase).
  • Definition of the Initial European Global Ocean-observing System by classification of operational ocean-observing systems in use.
  • Establish an efficient and operational network and procedure for updating existing entries and entering new entries into the EDIOS directory, thereby safeguarding an overall consistent quality of entries. A pan-European network of national EDIOS contact points has been established, while central EDIOS data management is performed by the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC).
  • Creating a web-based user interface to make the EDIOS directory available for a large variety of potential users, balancing between a low threshold and a high level of functionality for searching, identifying and browsing sites of European ocean-observing systems. The resulting web-based user interface has been designed with ample involvement of end-users and is operated by MARIS.

EDIOS project partners:

Germany:
Hamburg University, Zentrum für Meeres- und Klimaforschung (ZMK) in co-operation with:
  • Bundesforschungsanstalt für Fischerei (BFA) /Institut für Seefischerei
  • Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)

Greece:
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)

United Kingdom:
Southampton Oceanography Centre (SOC)
British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC)

France:
Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER):
  • The Marine Economics Service (SEM)

Norway:
Institute of Marine Research (IMR)

Sweden:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Italy:
National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS)

Netherlands:
National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (RIKZ)
Marine Information Service (MARIS), subcontractor