BODC's role

BODC is a national facility and the designated marine data centre for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and has established a reputation for being at the forefront of marine data management. It has developed numerous in-house tools and technologies, such as visualisation and QC software (Edserplo), robust and flexible file formats (QXF), a Relational Database Management System (RDMS), and a parameter dictionary consisting of more than 19,000 physical, chemical, biological and geological parameters. In addition, BODC is an active partner in national and international projects whose objectives are to further and promote marine data management.

As part of a coordinated approach to marine science, and because of the growing realisation of the importance of data management within the scientific and wider community, BODC and NOC have jointly setup an on site scientific data group at Southampton. The group has a line management relationship with the Head of NERC Strategic Research Division and a project management relationship with the Director of BODC.

The BODC and NOC (Southampton) data management model ©

The BODC Laboratory Liaison Officer (LLO) for NOC at Southampton, has a coordinating role with the data management group at NOC to ensure no duplication of work occurs and to promote the use of BODC software and protocols. Existing consortium, thematic and directed mode funded NOC data will follow existing channels to the BODC project managers. Core-funded data will be dealt with directly by the NOC data management group in partnership with BODC.