EMODnet Continues to Evolve Its Services: Latest Map Viewer Update and More

Summary: 

EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) is an EU marine data service of the EC DG MARE. Providing open and free access to #FAIR marine data and data products, EMODnet’s offer of pan-European marine environmental and human activities data serves diverse users, underpinning EU Policy, supporting the Blue Economy and driving research and innovation, informed management of ocean space and more. In this article, EMODnet presents its latest services announced in the EMODnet technical series, including evolution of the common map viewer for data discovery and visualization and updates on EMODnet’s wealth of tools demonstrating EMODnet's commitment to simplify the user experience, innovation, and accessibility, with each iteration designed to ensure smoother navigation and more accurate data interaction.

Enhancing the EMODnet Map Viewer features for simplified data discovery and visualisation

EMODnet is an operational EC marine data service and is continuously evolving to meet emerging policy and wider user requirements. The EMODnet Central Portal had over 120,0000 visitors in 2023 following centralization of its seven thematics into one single Portal, with common features and functionalities. This has been a game-changer for EMODnet users which span technical data scientists and researchers to policy makers, national authorities and Maritime Spatial Planners to the Blue Economy and private sector, among others. The EMODnet Map Viewer is the common visualization tool offered by the EMODnet service to explore, discover and visualize the EMODnet offer of pan-European marine environmental and human activities data and data products. In its most recent update,  the EMODnet Map Viewer introduces several significant enhancements designed to improve user experience and data interaction. One key improvement is the resolution of issues with layer animation, which previously caused server overload. This fix allows for smoother physics animations and a more responsive interface. Additionally, the map-sharing functionality has been enhanced, making it easier for users to share maps and collaborate. The update also includes a new Antarctic projection that allows the EMODnet offer to be visualised for the south pole region and this complements other projections for the arctic and Europe.  Another notable improvement is the adjustment of the filter reset functionality—users can now easily reset filters to their default settings, simplifying navigation through the layers. The layer animation now includes filtering options, giving users more control over the specific data they wish to view. Furthermore, layout issues in the catalogue window have been addressed, and download issues for out-of-bounds data have been fixed. Lastly, accessibility has been improved for metadata and download buttons, ensuring that these crucial features are now easier to access and use. These updates collectively enhance the overall functionality and usability of the Map Viewer, elevating elevate the EMODnet data discovery and download experience.

EMODnet's Commitment to Innovation: The Technical Blog

Beyond updates to specific tools, EMODnet is committed to maintaining transparency and fostering innovation through its regular technical blogs, which are published every quarter. These blogs provide valuable insights into the network's latest technological advances, ongoing projects, and behind-the-scenes developments.

So far previous blog posts have covered a wide array of topics, such as:

• "Improving User Experience: What’s New in EMODnet’s Tools" – A deep dive into the user-centric updates made across various EMODnet tools, focusing on UI/UX design improvements that enhance accessibility.
• "Managing Big Data in the Marine Sector" – A look at how EMODnet handles and processes massive datasets from different marine sources, ensuring that the network can continue to offer high-quality, accessible data to its users.
• "Leveraging Machine Learning for Marine Data Processing" – A forward-looking article that explores the ways EMODnet is incorporating AI and machine learning to improve data sorting, categorization, and usability.

To explore more about these technical advancements, you can read the full blogs on EMODnet’s technical blog section.

As EMODnet continues to evolve, users can expect further refinements, more powerful data tools, and new opportunities to engage with marine data in meaningful ways. Through ongoing digital transformation efforts, EMODnet is enhancing its data infrastructure, integrating advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to improve data accessibility and analysis. From technical improvements to the Map Viewer to the continued transparency of their quarterly blog updates, EMODnet remains dedicated to serving the needs of the European and global marine communities, providing open access to critical ocean data that supports sustainable development, policy decisions, and scientific research. And, as a key contributor to the European Digital Twin Ocean, EMODnet’s data offer is being made available in a common data lake via the EDITO platform, a joint initiative of EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service which is set to further advance decision-making tools based on trusted, integrated marine knowledge.

©EMODnet Secretariat