The design of monitoring and data infrastructures — Applying a forward-thinking reference architecture

Climate Change is an extraordinary challenge for the development of our socioeconomic environment. The compilation of comprehensive knowledge about our physical environment is a key importance for implementing of mitigation strategies. Long-term terrestrial observatories are supporting the systematic monitoring of environmental parameters. They are responsible for data collection, data analysis and subsequently for decision support. Not only the complex structure and the large volume of data streams but also the necessary integration of existing monitoring infrastructures for such observatories imply special technological challenges for today´s scientific data and information management. Recent developments of Information and Communication Technology provide important conceptual and technological input for the proper design and implementation of underlying monitoring and data infrastructures. To avoid constantly recurring system developments for such infrastructures, a general and integrated approach for a reference architecture concept is needed.