Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PITHIA-NRF (Plasmasphere Ionosphere Thermosphere Integrated Research Environment and Access services: a Network of Research Facilities)
Reporting period: 2021-04-01 to 2022-09-30
Complex physical processes in the Earth’s Ionosphere, Thermosphere, and Plasmasphere are the source of many scientific, operational, societal, and environmental challenges. The highly variable observed properties in this region of the near-Earth space, affect the smooth and uninterrupted operation of technological systems such as High Frequency (HF) radio communication and geolocation systems, ground- and satellite-based augmentation systems, and space-based communications as well as communications between the Earth and ground stations (or rovers) at Moon, Mars, and other planets, low-frequency radio astronomy and Synthetic-Aperture Radars observations.
While we understand the broad features that specify the behavior of this region in space, we lack the depth of understanding of the complex variability that would allow us to build models with real predictive power. To reach research advances, the PITHIA Network of Research Facilities (PITHIA-NRF) aims to integrate in a European distributed network, observing facilities, data collections, data processing tools and prediction models dedicated to ionosphere, thermosphere and plasmasphere research. Through this integration, PITHIA-NRF aims to provide organized access to observing facilities, to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable (FAIR) data, to standardized data products, to training and innovation services. PITHIA-NRF paves the way for new observing technologies, procedures and tools for the end-to-end transition of research models to applications tuned to meet the requirements of the technologies concerned, linking best-in-class R&D facilities to provide seamless multi-technology services.
While we understand the broad features that specify the behavior of this region in space, we lack the depth of understanding of the complex variability that would allow us to build models with real predictive power. To reach research advances, the PITHIA Network of Research Facilities (PITHIA-NRF) aims to integrate in a European distributed network, observing facilities, data collections, data processing tools and prediction models dedicated to ionosphere, thermosphere and plasmasphere research. Through this integration, PITHIA-NRF aims to provide organized access to observing facilities, to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable (FAIR) data, to standardized data products, to training and innovation services. PITHIA-NRF paves the way for new observing technologies, procedures and tools for the end-to-end transition of research models to applications tuned to meet the requirements of the technologies concerned, linking best-in-class R&D facilities to provide seamless multi-technology services.
In the first reporting period the Consortium worked to deliver the PITHIA-NRF vision and identity, the Project Management and Collaboration Tools, the Data Management Plan, the first e-science center prototype, the TNA framework, the updated Communication, Outreach and Dissemination Strategy, and the ‘ethics requirements’, which all give the tools and set the rules for the project management, accessibility and extroversion. More specifically:
- the e-Science Centre is designed and the proof of concept is released to facilitate data discovery and registration. The e-science center adopts the ISO data model and the domain ontology for the structural registration of the PITHIA heterogeneous data. The e-science center accepts already the first registrations of data, data-products and scientific models. The data management and quality is defined having as main target the compliance to the FAIR principles. The training for partners workshops supported significantly the e-science center developments.
- the coherent operation of the PITHIA-NRF nodes is further developed. Organized access to more than 20 user projects is already given. The two Workshops for Optimization of Operational Procedures and the knowledge books are supportive tools for the TNA projects implementation.
- the dissemination, communication and outreach activities include publication of research papers, presentations at conferences and publication of content for the general public in the project web site; the kick-off for the PITHIA-NRF e-newsletters distribution took place and first two issues are circulated to the network of PITHIA-NRF stakeholders;
- the First Innovation Day was held in June 2022 as a hybrid meeting with the participation of 60 stakeholders and consortium members; The report on the socioeconomic effects of the upper atmosphere was presented and discussion was held with the stakeholders to highlight the importance of the upper atmosphere effects in the daily life and in citizens’ safety. The significance of the PITHIA-NRF nodes for technological experimentation and development was also demonstrated.
- the e-Science Centre is designed and the proof of concept is released to facilitate data discovery and registration. The e-science center adopts the ISO data model and the domain ontology for the structural registration of the PITHIA heterogeneous data. The e-science center accepts already the first registrations of data, data-products and scientific models. The data management and quality is defined having as main target the compliance to the FAIR principles. The training for partners workshops supported significantly the e-science center developments.
- the coherent operation of the PITHIA-NRF nodes is further developed. Organized access to more than 20 user projects is already given. The two Workshops for Optimization of Operational Procedures and the knowledge books are supportive tools for the TNA projects implementation.
- the dissemination, communication and outreach activities include publication of research papers, presentations at conferences and publication of content for the general public in the project web site; the kick-off for the PITHIA-NRF e-newsletters distribution took place and first two issues are circulated to the network of PITHIA-NRF stakeholders;
- the First Innovation Day was held in June 2022 as a hybrid meeting with the participation of 60 stakeholders and consortium members; The report on the socioeconomic effects of the upper atmosphere was presented and discussion was held with the stakeholders to highlight the importance of the upper atmosphere effects in the daily life and in citizens’ safety. The significance of the PITHIA-NRF nodes for technological experimentation and development was also demonstrated.
PITHIA-NRF has already achieved for the first time, a significant level of integration regarding the observing facilities, the data collections and the scientific models. Until the end of the project, PITHIA-NRF has the ambition to become the European hub that will act as facilitator for coordinated observations, for data processing tools and modelling advances, for software and data products standardization, and will advise on the transitioning of models to operations providing e-science supporting tools so that models can reach the desired accuracy and standards. More specifically the following outcome is expected regarding:
Networking Activities:
- verification of standards applicability for data management, having already adopted standards from EOSC
- improvements in the procedures for the optimization of observing strategies in PITHIA-NRF nodes
- development of the innovation platform in collaboration with the market sector, especially SMEs and space agencies
- preparation of the long-term sustainability plan
- systematic training, dissemination and communication
Trans-national Access Activities:
- coherent operation of the nodes and provision of standardized access to the users.
- extensive exploitation of observations obtained by the nodes in collaboration with the users, in order to explore new physical processes in the ionosphere – thermosphere – plasmasphere system, and reach advances beyond the state of the art.
- continuous support to the users with new methodologies and tools for the development of new prediction models and support transitioning to operations.
Joint Research Activities:
- provision of access to validated data and model results, through the development of higher-level data-products
- development of advanced integration tools, and computational workflows that facilitate the derivation of new products
The implementation of the PITHIA-NRF project has the potential for enormous impact across several disparate fields of research and innovation, as well as in the areas of innovation, society, and politics:
- Researchers will have wider, simplified, and more efficient access to the best research infrastructures, irrespective of location.
- New or more advanced research infrastructure services, enabling leading-edge or multidisciplinary research, will be made available to a wider user community.
- Operators of related infrastructures develop synergies and complementary capabilities, leading to improved and harmonised services and economies of scale
- A new generation of researchers is educated
- Closer interactions between researchers active in and around a number of infrastructures facilitate cross-disciplinary fertilisations and a wider sharing of information, knowledge and technologies across fields and between academia and non-academic stakeholders, including industry.
- Better management of the continuous flow of data collected or produced by the network facilities and resources.
- Key scientific advances are expected to be stimulated, thanks to the plethora of open access tools and of open access to models and quality data.
- Important societal benefits, concerning technological developments for the safety and security of the citizens, and the management of risk and crisis situations, arise from the development of improved PITHIA-NRF services.
- The optimized operation of the key observational platforms, the development of integration of tools and the innovation activities, can efficiently guide governance and funding decisions in the field for future developments.
Networking Activities:
- verification of standards applicability for data management, having already adopted standards from EOSC
- improvements in the procedures for the optimization of observing strategies in PITHIA-NRF nodes
- development of the innovation platform in collaboration with the market sector, especially SMEs and space agencies
- preparation of the long-term sustainability plan
- systematic training, dissemination and communication
Trans-national Access Activities:
- coherent operation of the nodes and provision of standardized access to the users.
- extensive exploitation of observations obtained by the nodes in collaboration with the users, in order to explore new physical processes in the ionosphere – thermosphere – plasmasphere system, and reach advances beyond the state of the art.
- continuous support to the users with new methodologies and tools for the development of new prediction models and support transitioning to operations.
Joint Research Activities:
- provision of access to validated data and model results, through the development of higher-level data-products
- development of advanced integration tools, and computational workflows that facilitate the derivation of new products
The implementation of the PITHIA-NRF project has the potential for enormous impact across several disparate fields of research and innovation, as well as in the areas of innovation, society, and politics:
- Researchers will have wider, simplified, and more efficient access to the best research infrastructures, irrespective of location.
- New or more advanced research infrastructure services, enabling leading-edge or multidisciplinary research, will be made available to a wider user community.
- Operators of related infrastructures develop synergies and complementary capabilities, leading to improved and harmonised services and economies of scale
- A new generation of researchers is educated
- Closer interactions between researchers active in and around a number of infrastructures facilitate cross-disciplinary fertilisations and a wider sharing of information, knowledge and technologies across fields and between academia and non-academic stakeholders, including industry.
- Better management of the continuous flow of data collected or produced by the network facilities and resources.
- Key scientific advances are expected to be stimulated, thanks to the plethora of open access tools and of open access to models and quality data.
- Important societal benefits, concerning technological developments for the safety and security of the citizens, and the management of risk and crisis situations, arise from the development of improved PITHIA-NRF services.
- The optimized operation of the key observational platforms, the development of integration of tools and the innovation activities, can efficiently guide governance and funding decisions in the field for future developments.