Advancing Open Data Portals: Learnings from the EPOS Open-Source Solution

Abstract

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS), established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) in 2018, stands as a significant milestone in pan-European research infrastructures, focusing on solid Earth science. The EPOS Data Portal, officially launched in April 2023, is the place where FAIR principles and practices are implemented thanks to the adoption of a co-development approach and  harmonization of actions across communities of scientists, developers, data providers, and users. The EPOS Data Portal currently provides access to data and products from 10 different disciplines: Seismology, Near-Fault Observatories, GNSS Data and Products, Volcano Observations, Satellite Data, Geomagnetic Observations, Anthropogenic Hazards, Geological Information and Modeling, Multi-Scale Laboratories, and Tsunami. The EPOS Data Portal is based on a user-friendly user interface which provides intuitive visualization methods and interaction modes that significantly simplifies and facilitates the discovery and the access to the geoscientific community assets. Through the portal, users can: i) Perform data searches by combining a set of criteria; ii) Navigate and visualize the retrieved search results in different ways; iii) Fine-tune results using facets and advanced filters; iv) Download selected results or store them in a favorites list. The underlying system of the Data Portal has been crafted using a blend of open-source technologies, including Java, RabbitMQ, Python, and others. We implemented a modular architecture based on the microservices paradigm, facilitating seamless integration of new data and services through dedicated software interfaces. The source code, collaboratively developed by scientists and IT experts, is now available under a GPL license (https://epos-eu.github.io/epos-open-source/) along with a comprehensive developer’s guide.   In this contribution, we demonstrate the potential impact of our open-source solution in advancing visualizations, interfaces, and best practices within the context of multidisciplinary research. Furthermore, we present how other research infrastructures, projects and initiatives can benefit from the shared knowledge and expertise, accelerating the development of robust and advanced Earth science data portals.