CS-MACH1: Marine Citizen Science Data Horizon
- CMCC – Fondazione Centro-Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici
- SMHI – Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut
- ETT S.p.A.
- MARIS – Mariene Informatie Service MARIS BV
- OutBe
- CSIC – Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Científicas
- VLIZ – Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee
- ECSA – Verein der Europaeischen Bürgerwissenschaften
- AUA – American University of Armenia Foundation
- UM – Università ta’ Malta
- Ifremer – Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer
- NOC BODC – National Oceanography Centre
- IEEE France Section
The project
CS-MACH1 (Citizen Science for Marine data uptake at MACH 1 speed) is a European project that, inspired by the speed of sound (Mach 1), aims to accelerate and enhance the impact of marine citizen science. The goal is to transform data collected by citizens and participatory initiatives into an information resource. reliable, standardised and reusable, capable of supporting analyses and predictive models useful to researchers, policy makers and actors in the Blue Economy.
The project creates a data-oriented hub that connects citizen science initiatives, cost-efficient technology providers, data management experts and training materials to facilitate FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data flows and make citizen science more integrated into platforms and decision-making processes.
Activities
CS-MACH1 is built on three complementary pillars, designed to strengthen the entire data chain: from collection to exploitation.
Network: building a European network that connects citizen science initiatives, technology providers, data management experts and institutional stakeholders to create a stable forum for discussion and collaboration that generates continuity and scalability.
Training: design and dissemination of training materials, guidelines and best practices to improve data quality and support the practical application of FAIR principles with the aim of making standards, methods and processes replicable across the entire network.
Engagement: Activation and enhancement of citizen engagement through pilot cases and data platforms, to increase the scientific value and social impact of citizen science. Engagement amplifies observational capacity and the availability of useful data.
The role of ETT
ETT contributes to CS-MACH1 by providing advanced expertise in data science and in the development of WebGIS systems and services for the Blue Economy, with a specific focus on the enhancement of environmental and marine data.
Within the project, ETT develops value-added services for the management and harmonisation of data collected through cost-effective sensors and citizen science initiatives with the aim of making them interoperable and usable in analysis and modelling processes.
Thanks to its experience in developing platforms for environmental data management and decision support tools along the Blue Economy supply chain, ETT helps transform heterogeneous data into accessible and operational information useful for “what if” scenarios and for greater integration of citizen science into observation systems and governance strategies.
Method
Objective: to develop and establish a European Marine Citizen Science Data Network capable of supporting initiatives and stakeholders in sharing FAIR data and facilitating its adoption and integration by end users such as policy makers, researchers and decision makers.
How CS-MACH1 enables continuous interaction between all actors in the network, integrating technological expertise, data management and training to ensure more robust and standardised data flows. The project works on tools, standards, best practices and pilot cases to demonstrate how citizen science data can be collected, managed and made reusable at scale.
Impact aims to unlock the full potential of marine citizen science, increasing the quality and usability of data and transforming it into practical and accessible knowledge. The result is a significant contribution to research and society thanks to more reliable data that can be integrated into platforms and predictive models, with direct benefits for the Blue Economy and environmental policies.
Objectives of the project
1 – Building a pan-European Marine Citizen Science Data Network.
2 – Support the development of standards, technologies and best practices for data management.
3 – Enable and demonstrate an improvement in the FAIRness of citizen science (meta)data.
4 – Strengthen the European network by facilitating continuous interaction between stakeholders (initiatives, providers, experts, end users).
5 – Demonstrate the full potential of observational data collected through citizen science.
6 – Communicate and disseminate the approach developed for managing citizen science data.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe framework programme, grant agreement no. 101214613 (HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01-04 – Science for community: Building the marine Citizen Science data network of the future to valorise data coming from the ocean and increase engagement).