Roadmap for Continuous in situ Aquatic Monitoring in SYKE

PRO-SITU 1

Transition

Understanding aquatic ecosystem dynamics requires their monitoring at relevant scales. Continuous in situ measurement systems provide high-frequency data that capture events and quantify fluxes in the ecosystems which are impossible to observe with traditional methods.

The development in the continuous measurements has been rapid, resulting in enormous increases in dataflows. As monitoring methods evolve, the quality of measurements needs verification to ensure the continuation of essential long-term observation series. Properly validated, continuous in situ measurements provide accurate information and allow a quick reaction to changes and sudden events in aquatic environments. This wealth of information needs to be leveraged in order to improve our ability to achieve the environmental targets set for sustainable development goals.

Project

The PRO-SITU project merged SYKE’s rapidly evolving water quality infrastructure, data management knowledge and various water quality-related projects relying on environmental in situ monitoring. PRO-SITU brought together experts from SYKE’s various centres. Jointly they created the new elements needed to establish an effective and reliable water quality measurement and information system.

In Finland, the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE coordinates and conducts national long-term monitoring of hydrology and the biological and chemical variables. SYKE plays a central role in the development and testing of novel environmental monitoring methodologies. PRO-SITU foresees that SYKE will play a key role in coordinating the shift in monitoring technologies to continuous in situ measurements, and that SYKE will also represent Finland in key international partnerships. PRO-SITU proposes that SYKE continues to strategically develop its capacities and skills to meet these ambitious objectives. To retain the status of a national leader, SYKE must be actively involved in the development of monitoring technologies and highquality services, and needs to provide up-to-date information products.

Vision

PROPOSAL FOR OBJECTIVES:

New technologies will provide cost-effective solutions for monitoring, complement traditional methods by producing high-resolution data, and offer a more detailed insight into ecosystem processes. PRO-SITU envisions that by 2030, water quality monitoring will be substantially supported by continuous measuring devices.

• SYKE has the competence to define the fit-for-purpose criteria of in situ measurements and sampling strategies • SYKE has the expertise and research infrastructure to use, test and validate novel measuring devices and platforms • SYKE and its partners maintain long-term in situ observations at selected locations, with a strategy for sustained operations • SYKE ensures the comparability of continuous in situ and traditional methods, and develops tools aimed at the integrated use of data produced by different methodologies • SYKE is excellent at streamlining extensive and near real-time dataflows generated by in situ monitoring technologies • SYKE has resources and knowledge for data quality control (QC) and data storage solutions • SYKE produces high-quality data products for various user groups • SYKE participates actively in national and international networks to improve the status of aquatic environments 7

Phases In situ monitoring of aquatic systems consists of several interrelated phases. All these phases must already be considered at the outset to ensure the creation of valuable data when planning measurements. PRO-SITU has identified significant shortcomings of current SYKE operations and proposes solutions on how to bridge these gaps.

PHA SES

OPERATIONAL TA SKS

Phase 1. Outline of requirements

• Determine and decide what, why, and how to measure

Phase 2. Measuring devices

• Validate devices, develop measurement practices • Support maintenance for devices

Phase 3. Monitoring stations and platforms

• Plan and maintain station network operations • Create collaboration with other actors

Phase 4. Dataflows and quality control

• Streamline dataflows • Provide QC methods • Ensure resources for dataflows and quality control

Phase 5. Availability, usability and interoperability of data

• Provide FAIR data for various user groups • Develop and maintain user-friendly data portals and application programming interfaces

Phase 6. Data products and services, and their dissemination

• Develop solutions for new products • Promote use of autonomous continuous monitoring • Improve outreach, engage stakeholders

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

DATA LIFECYCLE

Establish strategic planning for how to include continuous in situ measurements in national monitoring programmes, how to sustain and build up infrastructures for observations, how to identify the key emerging technologies to focused on, and how to keep track of the capacities that are available. Improve best practices documentation, organise technology training, develop quality recommendations, invest in sensor validation, and create new projects for technology development and testing.

FROM SITE PL ANNING TO FINAL PRODUCTS

Participate in building and maintaining monitoring station network, secure harmonisation of observations, begin the use of novel observation platforms and new operational methods, and attract new users of measurement sites.

Create internal dialogue to share information and practices, and to untap expertise in related study fields.

Improve data management practices, streamline dataflows, secure capacities for dataflows, develop automated quality control methods.

Promote new solutions for in situ monitoring.

Secure application of FAIR Principles i.e. findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of data), proper vocabularies and standards via training, improve data availability, optimise data storages, and promote data use.

Pool the expertise and provide an outlook of the completely new era of aquatic monitoring.

Identify and satisfy user needs and interact with users to develop new services.

STRENGTHS • Competent and motivated personnel in all phases of the data lifecycle. SYKE has a good reputation as a partner • Suitable laboratory infrastructure for device testing and high-quality in situ monitoring campaigns • Strong international cooperation and good connections with stakeholders, collaborators and user groups • Sophisticated Quality Assurance system of data under development

WEAKNESSES • Clear SYKE strategies for data lifecycle and production of end products are lacking • Externally funded projects are unable to maintain high-grade stations and platforms • Tools and competences for quality control of continuous in situ data are not yet optimal • Data architecture currently heterogenous and does not support all novel technologies

OPPORTUNITIES • Society needs environmental information: momentum for SYKE to build up the entire range of data lifecycle based on user needs • Overall development in monitoring technologies and increase in related funding • Device and data handling development underway • Combining environmental monitoring with science, business and public sector

THREATS • Weak target group interest in developed services and end products • Services and solutions are not cost-effective, user-friendly or sustainable • Funding missing for sustained operations, and development of long-term monitoring not feasible • Fragmentation of responsibilities between the public and private sector

SWOT PRO-SITU identified SYKE’s very good expertise, capacities, infrastructure, and network of collaborators for developing aquatic monitoring. Areas for improvement include the stability of funding and the improvement of collaboration between centres.

A clear strategy must be established for the entire data lifecycle. The current complex environmental challenges have created a growing need for a wide range of environmental information, to be able to reveal pressure-impact links. For SYKE, this generates an opportunity to build up and strengthen monitoring data services for the needs of our society. However, society may concentrate on other important phenomena, and government-maintained environmental monitoring could be considered less important in the future. SYKE therefore might have fewer resources to maintain the monitoring campaigns and employ in-house experts. A major challenge will be to deliver products and services that meet user’s actual requirements.

Action plan TO START Inventory of capacities Best practices documentation Technology training Station network New operational methods Data management practices Streamlining dataflows Quality control methods Data storage User needs New services

MID-TERM Quality recommendations Sensor validation Technology development and testing Harmonisation of observations Novel observation platforms New users Vocabularies and standards Data availability Data use

LONG TERM & CONTINUOUS Strategic planning Building infrastructure Focus on key technologies Capacities for dataflows FAIR Principles Internal dialogue Promoting new solutions Pool the expertise

PRO-SITU proposes a list of actions for SYKE to maintain its leading role in water monitoring, even as technology enters a new era. Some measures should start immediately, increasing the capacity to conduct other more strategic actions. Several of the suggested development proposals require further planning and the investment of new resources. The proposed action plan needs to be detailed jointly with SYKE leadership and ministries and aligned with the main goals of the national strategy for environmental monitoring.

Short term timeline

On-line and updated inventory of capacities by listing experts, their interests, technologies used, available sensors and solutions

Best practices documentation of templates and examples available, and responsibilities communicated

Dialogue of options to store, share, and keep in situ monitoring data available

Streamlining of dataflows by analysing target data architectures and revealing gaps. Visualisation to improve communication with stakeholders

Mechanism in place for data management (national & international) e.g. solutions for data collection, transfer and storing

Building up and maintenance of station network agreed with ministry representatives and guidance received for future operations

Quality control methods developed, and information exchange between groups fluent

New key operational methods selected for testing and improving measuring capacity to provide impactful results

User needs for new services identified by questionnaires and existing information checked before the survey

Technology training through workshops on sensor calibration and validation

Detailed plan of the new services drafted according to mapped user needs

Contact persons: Development Manager Johanna Korhonen, johanna.korhonen@syke.fi Head of Unit Jukka Seppälä, jukka.seppala@syke.fi Development Manager Teemu Näykki, teemu.naykki@syke.fi Project Manager Mirjami Kuoppala, mirjami.kuoppala@syke.fi Senior Scientist Jouni Lehtoranta, jouni.lehtoranta@syke.fi @SYKEint @SYKEinfo youtube.com/sykevideo

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