Module 2: Enhancing techncial expertise and data management

Improving Technical Expertise and Ensuring Sensor Harmonization

The goal of the first part of Module 2 is to build national technical expertise and capabilities to support prioritized data collection and Swedish ship-based research. It consists of two main actions: developing and supporting a National Marine Technicians Network (NMTN) and ensuring national harmonization of onboard sensors. You can read more about the National Marine Technicians Network here.

NMTN is open to all technicians or research engineers working on Swedish research vessels and marine scientific equipment, regardless of whether their organization is an official SWERVE organization or not. Training opportunities will be communicated nationally, with open access to workshops where possible. If participation is limited, prioritization will be determined by the module leader on a case-by-case basis and may, in addition to scientific excellence, involve a "first-come, first-served" approach or be based on a technician’s work requirements.

One goal of NMTN is to expand the pool of trained technicians who can move between vessels either for troubleshooting support or as onboard technicians. This enhances experience and professional development, ensures nationally high-quality technical support for all researchers, and supports efficient vessel operations. The involvement of research engineers from SMaRC and technicians from EMBRC infrastructures will ensure collaboration within the community, joint training, and capacity development for all national marine technicians.

Enhancing the Delivery of Data to International Data Archives

The goal of the second part of Module 2 is to improve data accessibility for all users, both nationally and internationally, in accordance with the FAIR principles. Users of this data include researchers, as well as climate and ecosystem modelers for prediction and forecasting. Other users include the international remote sensing community (through various calibration/validation efforts), the marine technology community (shipping construction, energy, sensor and platform technology), and industry (seafloor mapping, fisheries management).

This module will coordinate data collection, quality control, standardization, and delivery to ensure a data flow to COPERNICUS and EMODnet (European Marine Observations and Data Network), which have well-established policies aligned with the FAIR data principles. Some data may be sensitive and will not be made publicly available unless permission has been granted through the appropriate Swedish processes.