Integration Of Multidisciplinary Data Research Articles

The EPOS multi-disciplinary Data Portal for integrated access to solid Earth science datasets

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS) is a long-term initiative aimed at integrating research infrastructures for solid Earth science in Europe. EPOS provides a sustainable, multidisciplinary user-oriented platform - the EPOS Data Portal - that facilitates data integration, access, use, and re-use, while adhering to the FAIR principles. The paper describes the key governance, community building, and technical aspects for achieving multidisciplinary data integration through the portal. It also outlines the key portal features for aggregating approximately 250 data sources from more than ten different scientific communities. The main architectural concepts underpinning the portal, namely the rich-metadata, the service-driven data provision, and the usage of semantics, are outlined. The paper discusses the challenges encountered during the creation of the portal, describes the community engagement process, and highlights the benefits to the scientific community and society. Future work includes expanding portal functionalities to include data analysis, processing, and visualization and releasing the portal as an open-source software package.

Geophysical Constraints to Reconstructing the Geometry of a Shallow Groundwater Body in Caronia (Sicily)

The characterization of a groundwater body involves the construction of a conceptual model that constitutes the base knowledge for monitoring programs, hydrogeological risk assessment, and correct management of water resources. In particular, a detailed geological and geophysical approach was applied to define the alluvial Caronia Groundwater Body (CGWB) and to reconstruct a hydrogeological flow model. The analysis of the CGWB, located in north-eastern Sicily, was initially approached through a reanalysis of previous stratigraphic (boreholes) and geophysical (vertical electrical soundings and seismic refraction profiles) data, subsequently integrated by new seismic acquisitions, such as Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) and horizontal-to-vertical seismic ratio (HVSR). The analysis and reinterpretation of geoelectrical data allowed the construction of a preliminary 3D resistivity model. This initial modeling was subsequently integrated by a geophysical data campaign in order to define the depth of the bottom of the shallow CGWB and the thickness of alluvial deposits. Finally, a preliminary mathematical model flow was generated in order to reconstruct the dynamics of underground water. The results show that integration of multidisciplinary data represent an indispensable tool for the characterization of complex physical systems.

EuroGOOS roadmap for operational coastal downstream services

The EuroGOOS Coastal working group examines the entire coastal value chain from coastal observations to services for coastal users. The main objective of the working group is to review the status quo, identify gaps and future steps needed to secure and improve the sustainability of the European coastal service provision. Within this framework, our white paper defines a EuroGOOS roadmap for sustained “community coastal downstream service” provision, provided by a broad EuroGOOS community with focus on the national and local scale services. After defining the coastal services in this context, we describe the main components of coastal service provision and explore community benefits and requirements through sectoral examples (aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, port, cross-sectoral) together with the main challenges and barriers to user uptake. Technology integration challenges are outlined with respect to multiparameter observations, multi-platform observations, the land-coast-ocean continuum, and multidisciplinary data integration. Finally, the technological, financial, and institutional sustainability of coastal observing and coastal service provision are discussed. The paper gives special attention to the delineation of upstream and downstream services, public-private partnerships and the important role of Copernicus in better covering the coastal zone. Therefore, our white paper is a policy and practice review providing a comprehensive overview, in-depth discussion and actionable recommendations (according to key short-term or medium-term priorities) on the envisaged elements of a roadmap for sustained coastal service provision. EuroGOOS, as an entity that unites European national operational oceanography centres, research institutes and scientists across various domains within the broader field of operational oceanography, offers to be the engine and intermediary for the knowledge transfer and communication of experiences, best practices and information, not only amongst its members, but also amongst the different (research) infrastructures, institutes and agencies that have interests in coastal oceanography in Europe.

Technology Focus: Intelligent Operations (May 2023)

The first paper selected for this Intelligent Fields Technical Focus presents the use of a unique artificial-intelligence (AI) technique from the fourth industrial revolution—dual heuristic dynamic programming—to address business opportunities associated with optimization. The background, methodology, and novelty presented by the authors are clear; however, they need to benchmark their efforts and claims of improvement with peers. The second paper demonstrates well-structured content, though the topic is detailed, with the introduction of a digital laboratory called Ibtikar toward the enablement of connecting to open-source tools with the use of AI. The collaboration in research and development, as well as addressing challenges of upstream oil and gas requirements, is commendable. The authors, however, do not address associated security concerns concerning the open-source aspect of the technology. The third paper presents a combination of technologies used to automate daily data acquisition and model updates from production databases and run a supervised machine-learning model to continuously calibrate the network model. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 207188 Design and Development of a Solar-Powered Pump System With Liquid-Level Sensor and Controller Using Internet of Things Technology by Chinonyelum Ejimuda, Afe Babalola University, et al. SPE 211314 Improved Field Production Planning and Cost Optimization Using Predictive Analytical Choke Performance Model and Intelligent Alarms in an Integrated Platform by Ayesha Alsaeedi, Adnoc, et al. SPE 211367 Multidisciplinary Data Integration for Artificial-Intelligence-Assisted Well Placement and Trajectory-Design Optimization Under Uncertainty by Shi Su, SLB, et al.

Predicting marine organic-rich deposits using forward stratigraphic modelling: The Jurassic Najmah source rock – Case study

Predicting the distribution and heterogeneity of marine Mesozoic organic-rich rocks is a challenging task that requires multi-disciplinary data integration supported by innovative numerical modelling. This study aims at investigating the factors controlling marine organic matter production, accumulation, and preservation along the eastern Arabian intrashelf basins. Such types of basins exhibit an enhanced lateral and vertical facies variability caused by the interplay between shallow and deeper water sedimentation. The work focuses on characterizing the Mid-Upper Jurassic Najmah Formation that presents source rock, reservoir, as well as seal characteristics along Kuwait. It comprises high maturity levels (>0.6% Ro) and TOC values ranging between 2 and 30%. Forward stratigraphic modelling that includes organic matter production, transport, and preservation (i.e., degradation and dilution) was utilized. Models corresponding to two end-member basin types (restricted and fully open marine) have been simulated to mimic the organic matter deposition within a 3rd-order sequence stratigraphic framework. Simulation outputs provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of organic matter characteristics (TOC, HI, and OI) at the time of deposition. Results show that (1) a combined variable eustatic sea level change and tectonic subsidence are the main driving mechanisms for sediment accommodation during the Mid-Upper Jurassic time, (2) strong anoxic conditions in the restricted basin simulations promote the preservation of organic-rich deposits in the distal northern sectors while (3) the influence of open marine bottom current oxygenation is not expected to impact the relatively shallower conditions affecting the intrashelf basin (<200 m depth), (4) organic matter dilution can be observed along the southernmost sectors of Kuwait due to high sedimentation rates related to the development of gravity driven deposits. Sensitivity analysis on input parameters (i.e., primary productivity vs water depth) supports the partially restricted basin conditions with occasional connection to the open ocean during eustatic sea level rise. This study contributes to the improvement of basin models in conventional as well as unconventional petroleum system exploration.

Emerging plays and alternative petroleum systems in Mozambique revealed by multi-disciplinary data integration

Disclaimer Text and Data Mining. Any automated analytical technique aimed at analysing text and data in digital form in order to generate information including - but not limited to - patterns, trends and correlations (so-called Text and Data Mining) may only be applied if it is done by a research organisation or cultural heritage institution solely for the purpose of (non-commercial) scientific research as mentioned in Clause 3 of Directive (EU) 2019/790 (the Digital Single Market Directive) and Clause 15n of the Dutch Copyright Act [Auteurswet]. Text and Data Mining for commercial purposes is not allowed; all rights in this respect are reserved pursuant to Clause 4 paragraph 3 of the Digital Single Market Directive and Clause 15o paragraph 1 of the Dutch Copyright Act.

FaceBase 3: analytical tools and FAIR resources for craniofacial and dental research.

The FaceBase Consortium was established by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in 2009 as a 'big data' resource for the craniofacial research community. Over the past decade, researchers have deposited hundreds of annotated and curated datasets on both normal and disordered craniofacial development in FaceBase, all freely available to the research community on the FaceBase Hub website. The Hub has developed numerous visualization and analysis tools designed to promote integration of multidisciplinary data while remaining dedicated to the FAIR principles of data management (findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability) and providing a faceted search infrastructure for locating desired data efficiently. Summaries of the datasets generated by the FaceBase projects from 2014 to 2019 are provided here. FaceBase 3 now welcomes contributions of data on craniofacial and dental development in humans, model organisms and cell lines. Collectively, the FaceBase Consortium, along with other NIH-supported data resources, provide a continuously growing, dynamic and current resource for the scientific community while improving data reproducibility and fulfilling data sharing requirements.

Stick-slip vs. stable sliding fault behaviour: A case-study using a multidisciplinary approach in the volcanic region of Mt. Etna (Italy)

In active volcanic zones, fault dynamics is considerably fast but it is often difficult to separate the pattern of nearly continuous large-scale volcanic processes (inflation/deflation processes, flank instability) from impulsive episodes such as dyke intrusions or coseismic fault displacements. At Etna, multidisciplinary studies on active faults whose activity does not strictly depend on volcanic processes, are relatively few. Here we present the case-study of the San Leonardello fault, an active structure located in the eastern flank of Mt. Etna characterised by a well-known seismic history. This fault saw renewed activity in May 2009, when pre-seismic creeping along the southern segment preceded an MW 4.0 earthquake in the northern segment, followed by some twenty-five aftershocks. Later, in March–April 2016, creep events reactivated the southern section of the same fault. Both the seismic and aseismic phenomena were recorded by the seismic and GNSS networks of INGV-Osservatorio Etneo, and produced surface faulting that left a footprint in the pattern of ground deformation detected by the InSAR measurements. We demonstrate that the integration of multidisciplinary data collected for volcano surveillance may shed light on different aspects of fault dynamics, and allow understanding how coseismic slip and creep alternate in space and time along the strike. Moreover, we use findings from our independent datasets to propose a conceptual model of the San Leonardello fault, taking into account behaviour and previous constraints from fault-based seismic hazard analyses. Although the faulting mechanisms described here occur at a very small scale compared with those of a purely tectonic setting, this case-study may represent a perfect natural lab for improving knowledge of seismogenic processes, also in other fault zones characterised by stick slip vs. stable-sliding fault behaviour.

GIS and BIM as Integrated Digital Environments for Modeling and Monitoring of Historic Buildings

Multidisciplinary data integration within an information system is considered a key point for rehabilitation projects. Information regarding the state of preservation and/or decision making, for sustainable restoration is prerequisite. In addition, achieving structural integrity of a historic building, especially one that has undergone many construction phases and restoration interventions, is a very elaborate task and should, therefore, involve the study of multidisciplinary information regarding historical, architectural, building material and geometric data. In this paper the elaboration of such data within 2D and 3D information systems is described. Through the process described herein, a methodology, including the acquisition, classification and management of various multisensory data, is displayed and applied within a geographic information system (GIS). Moreover, the multidisciplinary documentation process, aggregated with the surveying products, generates 3D heritage building information modeling (HBIM), including information regarding construction phases, pathology and current state of preservation of a building. The assessment of the applied methodology is performed concluding in a qualitative and a quantitative manner, in both 2D and 3D environments, providing information to facilitate the structural assessment of a historic building. Thus, in this work, the described methodology is presented, combining the multidisciplinary data with the development of GIS thematic maps and an HBIM. Representative results of the suggested methodology applied on the historic building of Villa Klonaridi, Athens, Greece are displayed.

A Web-Based Remote Sensing Data Processing and Production System With the Unified Integration of Multi-Disciplinary Data and Models

A Web-Based Remote Sensing Data Processing and Production System With the Unified Integration of Multi-Disciplinary Data and Models

An Integrated Approach Supporting Remediation of an Aquifer Contaminated with Chlorinated Solvents by a Combination of Adsorption and Biodegradation

Hydrogeological uniqueness and chemical-physical peculiarities guide the contamination dynamics and decontamination mechanisms in the environmental arena. A single composite geodatabase, which integrates geological/hydrological, geophysical, and chemical data, acts as a “cockpit” in the definition of a conceptual model, design of a remediation strategy, implementation, near-real-time monitoring, and validation/revision of a pilot test, and monitoring full-scale interventions. The selected remediation strategy involves the creation of "reactive" zones capable of reducing the concentration of chlorinated solvents in groundwater through the combined action of adsorption on micrometric activated carbon, which is injected into the aquifer, and degradation of organic contaminants, stimulating the dechlorinating biological activity by the addition of an electron donor. The technology is verified through a pilot test, to evaluate the possibility of scaling up the process. The results of post-treatment monitoring reveal abatement of the concentration of chlorinated solvents and intense biological dechlorination activity. Achieving the remediation objectives and project closure is based on the integration of multidisciplinary data using a multiscale approach. This research represents the first completed example in European territory of remediation of an aquifer contaminated with chlorinated solvents by a combination of adsorption and biodegradation.

Integration and synthesis of quantitative data: Alexander von Humboldt’s renewed relevance in modern biogeography and ecology

Author(s): Keppel, Gunnar; Kreft, Holger | Abstract: The integration and synthesis of data from varied sources is becoming increasingly common in biogeography and ecology. Although analyses of large, global datasets from multiple, varied sources only became common recently, such studies trace their origin to the early 19th century. Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an eminent and much-celebrated scientist, who introduced the concept of collecting high-quality quantitative data across continents. More importantly, he championed inter-disciplinary research, data-driven studies, and global comparative syntheses. With these studies, he helped to lay the foundations for the fields of biogeography and ecology, and his ideas, concepts, and scientific approach remain at the forefront of exciting recent developments in both disciplines. Remembering Humboldt’s 250th birthday, we show how his scientific philosophy and visionary approach to multi-disciplinary data integration and synthesis have recently been revitalized due to increasing computing power and the numerous complex environmental challenges facing our planet.

The 2016 World Health Organization classification of tumours of the central nervous system

The 2016 WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system represents the new paradigm among the specialists in the brain tumours and proposes a new approach combining histopathological and molecular features into diagnosis named 'integrated diagnosis'. The aim of this challenge is to overstep the interobserver variability of diagnosis based on previous classifications in order to ensure homogenous biological entities with a more accurate clinical significance. Over the last two decades, several molecular aberrations into gliomagenesis were highlighted and then confirmed as emerging biomarkers through prognostic stratification. In particular, IDH1/IDH2 genes mutations, 1p/19q codeletion and mutations in genes encoding histone H3 variants drastically changed the knowledge about diffuse gliomas inducing the WHO working group to consider the phenotype-genotype approach. In the present review, the historical development of the diagnosis of brain tumours from the 3D spatial configuration to the integration of multidisciplinary data up to recent molecular alterations is discussed. At the national level, the RENOCLIP network (supported by the National Cancer Institute) contributes to improve the standardization of histological diagnosis and the facilitation of access to molecular biology platforms for the detection of genetic aberrations necessary for integrated diagnosis. Importantly, the French POLA cohort allowed to test the clinical impact of the new criteria introduced by 2016 WHO classification of CNS tumours confirming the high accuracy in predicting clinical behaviour for diffuse gliomas.

EMODnet Chemistry Spatial Data Infrastructure for marine observations and related information

Scientific research as well as management of the marine environment, and sustainable blue growth are based on the availability of quality-assured observations, reliable data and solid scientific-based information. These represent three consecutive steps of Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom paradigm on the pyramid of wisdom, providing different layers of information. EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data network) is one of the key infrastructures engaged in collecting, facilitating access and promoting use and re-use of marine observation and data products for both scientific research and marine environmental management. Its Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) represents a powerful mechanism to support the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Article 19.3 in accordance with the INSPIRE Directive standards and implementing rules. Standardized, harmonized and validated chemical data collections are made available for water quality evaluation at a regional scale, establishing interoperability between the data sets from the many different providers (more than 60 in EMODnet Chemistry). Concentration maps of nutrients, chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen are computed on a standard grid, providing information at a regular time interval, per season and over several vertical layers, including the deepest one. Dedicated Open Geospatial Consortium standard services for browsing, viewing and downloading chemistry observation data and data products for the European waters have been developed, and are actively maintained and monitored. These results can provide knowledge layers and can also answer the needs of the directive on Maritime Spatial Planning (EU, 2014), which requires the integration of multidisciplinary data and information on the state of the marine environment with maritime and human activities.

The past, present and future of palynology in China&amp;mdash;Concentrate on Quaternary palynology

Palynology is a branch of botany with an increasingly important role in the development of modern nature science. It was originally established in Europe during the early twentieth century and has flourished in China since the 1950s. This paper discusses the development of palynology in China from the historical, contemporaneous, and future perspectives. Specifically, we focus on the development of Quaternary palynology since 1979. Quaternary palynology involves six research fields: plants and environment, Loess Plateau, ocean, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, global climate change, and environmental archaeology in this paper. Palynologists who study environmental changes mainly focus on the relationships among pollen, vegetation, and environment. The high-resolution analyses of pollen records in the surface soil and sediment profiles of Loess Plateaus have promoted the development of information about paleovegetation and paleoenvironment and enabled the comparison of past climate changes and effects of human activities with global changes. By analyzing pollen data from surface water samples and marine drilling cores, palynologists have made significant progress in elucidating the high-resolution evolutionary history of paleovegetation, paleoclimate, and paleomonsoon in South China Sea and its surrounding regions on the time scales of several million years. Such progress has benefitted research on global sea level changes. The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau has been a hot area of research for several years. Palynologists have explored the vegetational, climatic, and environmental features of different periods, such as the Late Glacial, the Last Glacial Maximum, the Younger Dryas, and the Holocene Megathermal, to reveal the mechanism and process of the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The application of Quaternary palynology to environmental archeology not only facilitates understanding of the needs of the economic life and food structure of ancestral humans, the evolution of paleoenvironment and the rise and fall of culture, but also promotes current research on the origin of human, agricultural and civilization. Although Quaternary palynology has made remarkable achievements in many research fields, three problems require urgent solutions. First, the low magnification and resolution of optical microscopy complicate palynological identification on the species level and introduce a degree of uncertainty to the reconstruction of paleovegetation, paleoenvironment and paleoclimate. Second, pollen does not show a simple linear relationship with vegetation. Thus, a reliable pollen-vegetation relationship model remains to be established. Third, research on modern pollen processes, which includes pollen production, transportation, source, deposition, and preservation, has a crucial role in the correct explanation of pollen data and quantitative reconstruction of the paleovegetation and paleoenvironment. Global changes and the impact of environmental evolution have provided excellent opportunities and new challenges for the development of Quaternary palynology in the new century. These opportunities and challenges are as follows: First, the accuracy of pollen identification must be improved to establish a reliable pollen-vegetation relationship model. Second, systemic theoretical studies on modern pollen processes, such as pollen production, transportation, source, deposition, and preservation, should be conducted using surfaces, atmosphere, water, and rock as media. Third, the reconstruction of paleovegetation and paleoclimate from the qualitative and quantitative analyses of high-resolution pollen assemblages should receive additional efforts. Pollen records should be analyzed using various mathematical methods. Finally, to distinguish the role of climate change and human activities in vegetation and climate dynamics, human land use data, surface and fossil pollen data, and meteorological data can be combined to quantify paleovegetation and land use patterns using appropriate mathematical models. Therefore, only by relying on the integration of multidisciplinary data and academic cooperation with colleagues at home and abroad can we further improve the Quaternary palynological research in China and better serve the needs of our society and national strategies.

Contribution for an Urban Geomorphoheritage Assessment Method: Proposal from Three Geomorphosites in Rome (Italy)

Abstract Urban geomorphology has important implications in spatial planning of human activities, and it also has a geotouristic potential due to the relationship between cultural and geomorphological heritage. Despite the introduction of the term Anthropocene to describe the deep influence that human activities have had in recent times on Earth evolution, urban geomorphological heritage studies are relatively rare and limited and urban geotourism development is recent. The analysis of the complex urban landscape often need the integration of multidisciplinary data. This study aims to propose the first urban geomorphoheritage assessment method, which originates after long-lasting previous geomorphological and geotouristic studies on Rome city centre, it depict rare examples of the geomorphological mapping of a metropolis and, at the same time, of an inventory of urban geomorphosites. The proposal is applied to geomorphosites in the Esquilino neighbourhood of Rome, whose analysis confirm the need for an ad hoc method for assessing urban geomorphosites, as already highlighted in the most recent literature on the topic. The urban geomorphoheritage assessment method is based on: (i) the urban geomorphological analysis by means of multitemporal and multidisciplinary data; (ii) the geomorphosite inventory; and (iii) the geomorphoheritage assessment and enhancement. One challenge is to assess invisible geomorphosites that are widespread in urban context. To this aim, we reworked the attributes describing the Value of a site for Geotourism in order to build up a specific methodology for the analysis of the urban geomorphological heritage.

Inside the polygonal walls of Amelia (Central Italy): A multidisciplinary data integration, encompassing geodetic monitoring and geophysical prospections

We investigate a portion of the ancient (VI and IV centuries BC) polygonal walls of Amelia, in Central Italy. After the collapse of a portion of the walls which occurred in January 2006, a wide project started in order to monitor their external facade and inspect the characteristics of the internal structure, currently not clearly known. In this specific case, the preservation of such an important cultural heritage was mandatory, therefore invasive methods like drilling or archaeological essays cannot be used. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary approach represents an innovative way to shed light on their inner structure. We combine several non-invasive techniques such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), specifically adapted for this study, Laser Scanning and Digital Terrestrial Photogrammetry, integrated with other geomatic measures provided by a Total Station and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). After collecting some historical information, we gather the whole datasets exploring for their integration an interpretation approach borrowed from the reflection seismic (attribute analysis and three dimensional visualization). The results give rise for the first time to the internal imaging of this ancient walls, highlighting features associable to different building styles related to different historical periods. Among the result, we define a max wall thickness of about 3.5m for the cyclopic sector, we show details of the internal block organization and we detect low resistivity values interpretable with high water content behind the basal part of the walls. Then, quantitative analyses to assess their reliable geotechnical stability are done, integrating new geometrical constrains provided by the geophysics and geo-technical ground parameters available in literature. From this analysis, we highlight how the Amelia walls are interested, in the investigated sector, by a critical pseudo-static equilibrium.

Spatio-temporal variability in the population structure in North-east Atlantic stocks of horse mackerel (&lt;em&gt;Trachurus trachurus&lt;/em&gt;)

The long-term sustainability of fish stocks is dependent upon the identification of biologically meaningful demographic boundaries and, subsequently, appropriate assessment figures and management strategies. In the case of the horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, stock management in the North-east Atlantic area is currently based on stock identities derived from multidisciplinary data integration, but including genetic markers that might lack statistical power, hence potentially misrepresenting the units of assessment. For this reason, and based on multiannual field observations, the boundaries of the vast ‘western stock’, whose distribution spans from the Bay of Biscay to the Norwegian coast, were reassessed. The preliminary results of a population genetics survey of samples collected over three consecutive years off the western Irish coast (areas VI and VII) and Norway (IVa), and screened by employing a suite of thirteen microsatellite loci are presented. Results indicate that the core of the putative stock in the west of Ireland is temporally stable, but its spatial extent and connection with Norwegian waters varies between years. Interannual variation in nutrient transport and oceanographic regimes may explain unstable patterns of genetic variation west of Norway, where local, smaller, previously unknown populations might exist.

Modelling the evolution of hydrochemical conditions in the Fennoscandian Shield during Holocene time using multidisciplinary information

Three-dimensional, large-scale models for groundwater flow and solute transport are used for the low-temperature, fractured crystalline rock sites in Sweden that are being considered for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. It has been suggested that comparisons between measured and simulated present-day hydrochemical data provide a means to constrain the complex influences of past climatic events and to improve the ability to understand the palaeohydrogeological evolution of the physical system studied. Here the authors demonstrate how the integration of multidisciplinary data and models from one of the sites in Sweden (Forsmark) can aid the appraisal of the hydrochemical conditions at 8000 BC, which is the selected starting point for the palaeohydrogeological modelling of the hydrochemical conditions in the Fennoscandian Shield during the Holocene (last 10 ka). Since a firm understanding of the evolution of the hydrochemical conditions is important for the long-term safety assessment, recognition of the initial hydrochemical conditions is essential for the overall build-up of confidence in the modelling process.

Cumulative global metamodels with uncertainty — a tool for aerospace integration

AbstractThe integration of multidisciplinary data is key to supporting decisions during the development of aerospace products. Multidimensional metamodels can be automatically constructed using limited experimental or numerical data, including data from heterogeneous sources. Recent progress in multidimensional response surface technology, for example, provides the ability to interpolate between sparse data points in a multidimensional parameter space. These analytical representations act as surrogates that are based on and complement higher fidelity models and/or experiments, and can include technical data from multiple fidelity levels and multiple disciplines. Most importantly, these representations can be constructed on-the-fly and are cumulatively enriched as more data become available. The purpose of the present paper is to highlight applications of these cumulative global metamodels (CGM), their ease of construction, and the role they can play in aerospace integration. A simple metamodel implementation based on a radial basis function network is presented. This model generalises multidimensional data while simultaneously furnishing an estimate of the uncertainty on the prediction. Four examples are discussed. The first two illustrate the efficiency of surrogate-based design/optimisation. The third applies CGM concepts to a data fusion application. The last example is used to visualise extrapolation uncertainty, based on computational fluid dynamics data.