As global energy consumption increases and climate change makes headlines across the world, developing new technologies to harness energy from our oceans to generate electricity is now more important than ever.
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), established in 2003 and based in Orkney, Scotland, is the first and only centre of its kind in the world to provide developers of both wave and tidal energy converters with purpose-built, accredited open-sea testing facilities.
EMEC, who is at the forefront of tidal and wave technology development, take data very seriously and realise the operational benefits that come from getting the best out of their investment in geographic information system (GIS) and employing a whole business approach to data management.
EMEC recently embarked on a project with marine data experts OceanWise to further improve GIS and data management capabilities. Throughout the project, OceanWise delivered training programmes in data management, QGIS and supported EMEC to convert their existing diverse datasets into a geospatial database. They also linked QGIS to existing data systems and implemented metadata management across the business.
OceanWise also assisted EMEC to update their data policy and strategy and prepare a roadmap to include data management as part of their existing business management framework.
David Darbinyan, senior metocean engineer at EMEC explained:
“OceanWise provided EMEC with valuable support in managing our diverse datasets. OceanWise not only provided a high-level overview of best data management practices, but also supplied very concrete and hands-on steps to improve our existing approach. The feedback provided was tailored specifically for EMEC and allowed us to take full advantage of our existing Integrated Management System tools and processes.”
About OceanWise
OceanWise is an independent company specialising in all aspects of marine environmental data acquisition, data and knowledge management and GIS providing customers with comprehensive and cost effective end-to-end marine and coastal data management and decision support including:
- Intelligent Marine Mapping (Raster Charts, Marine Themes Vector, DEM and Web Map Services)
- Marine Data Management (Advice, Mentoring, Training and free annual workshops)
- Enterprise GIS and Productivity Tools (Maritime Toolbar and Workflow Extensions)
- Environmental Data Sharing and Publishing (Ocean Database and Port-Log.net)
For more information about OceanWise, please contact Ms Katie Eades, Marketing Manager, at katie.eades@oceanwise.eu or visit www.oceanwise.eu.
About EMEC
Established in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for testing wave and tidal energy converters in real sea conditions. The centre offers independent, accredited grid-connected test berths for full-scale prototypes, as well as test sites in less challenging conditions for use by smaller scale technologies, supply chain companies, and equipment manufacturers.
To date, more marine energy converters have been deployed in Orkney, Scotland, than at any other single site in the world with 20 wave and tidal energy clients spanning 11 countries having tested 32 marine energy devices. www.emec.org.uk
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