The GOOS Regional Alliances Networking Development (GRAND) is a project aimed at establishing a dialogue between the regional initiatives promoting the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), known as the GOOS Regional Alliances (GRAs), and to secure benefits to the regions and coastal states from the global scale initiatives and programmes.
The GOOS is an international programme led by the UN Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee (IOC) to establish ocean observations and forecasting for the operational monitoring of the oceans by in situ and remote-sensed measurements, and through the use of numerical models to make assessments and develop added-value products to the benefit of a wide spectrum of users.
Apart from monitoring the state of health of the sea, and assisting in understanding global climatic changes, GOOS also aims to provide knowledge for sound decision-making, to sustain ocean governance, improve marine services and support marine industries.
With the technological advances in telecommunications, the fast and rapid sharing and access to data and the improved techniques to merge and transform data, it is expected that in the near future there will be a great leap in the value of marine information. Observations and scientific knowledge are crucial in the chain of practices leading from scenario building and problem formulation, to integrated economic-ecological adaptive modelling, and to management options for sound decision-making and governance.
GRAND will serve to identify the key priority areas for ocean forecasting in each region, empower the GRAs to create a coherent structure to achieve capacity building appropriate to the needs of each region, learn from the GOOS regions towards adopting “best practice” and common strategies, and promote the transition of ocean forecasting from research to operational mode.
The ultimate goal is the preparation of a GOOS Regional Strategy. GRAND will capitalise on the experience of the GRAs, on European know-how and will build on the experience of the FP5 MAMA project. The project will also build on the European contribution to the global environmental monitoring systems defined by the GMES Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.
GRAND is coordinated by the MedGOOS Secretariat within the IOI-Malta Operational Centre at the University of Malta and the CNR institute for Coastal and Marine Habitats in Italy.
AcrossLimits’ role in this project is that of assisting in electronic communications between the partners of the project and in drawing up the web platform, which is essential in the smooth running of the project and in the achievement of the goals set out by the partners.
The website will contain information on the partners and a partners area for easier communications. This is a vital dissemination tool which will be linked to other international sites of similar projects and alliances.
The website is expected to draw a lot of attention as well attracting an international audience and as such it will be covering considerable detail on the deliverables of each work-package.
AcrossLimits is a dynamic and creative e-business solutions provider, with offices in Malta and Brussels, specialising in consultancy and coordination for EU projects with several years experience in the field. For further information, please go to www.acrosslimits.com