NoLIMITS started as a two year EC Preparatory Action funded by the European Network for Research in Global Change (ENRICH). The aim of the Action was to develop a strategy for the creation of a pan-European Long-term Integrated Monitoring Site Network. The network, based on existing sites, will serve the data and information needs of European-scale users for the detection and interpretation of global environmental change in terrestrial systems. To succeed, the network must deliver policy relevant information that either cannot be provided by alternative mechanisms or is better and more cost effective than information available through existing channels. To populate the network with the required data and information, benefits of participation must also be clearly evident to contributing sites eg. through enhanced research opportunities, publicity and kudos.
The broad scale detection of environmental change arising from long-term monitoring programmes has been of proven value in warning politicians and the public about the dangers of damage to the environment and in informing policy responses. As a result there is now increased awareness amongst users of environmental data and information of the role that coordinated measurements across broad networks may have in detecting, interpreting and reporting on global change. In practice, potential users are unable to make effective use of existing resources because of the lack of common approaches to data collection, management and presentation. Improved networking on a pan-European scale would provide for more cost effective use of long-term data and a more powerful data and information source to enable the earlier detection of environmental change.
Although there are a large number of sites across Europe which already undertake some form of long-term integrated monitoring, there are only a few national and international initiatives aimed at the development of integrated monitoring networks. The Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) Database TEMS (Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites) lists contacts for nearly 500 monitoring sites in Europe. Some of these are already part of national networks (e.g. the UK Environmental Change Network (ECN)), some are part of international programmes which address specific environmental issues (e.g. IMP - the International Co-operative Programme on Integrated Monitoring on Air Pollution Effects) or particular habitats or biomes (e.g. European Forest Network), but many are still isolated sites, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Three features distinguished NoLIMITS from related activities: 1) development plans were driven by defined user, rather than research, requirements; 2) the emphasis on "integrated" monitoring of the pan-European terrestrial environment; and 3) an Internet-based mechanism for information management and delivery. Key users were represented by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) and the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO). Special emphasis was placed on the delivery of policy relevant information and indicators.
(1) Task Force with representatives from each project partners - to prioritise, initiate and coordinate activities, and liaise with: national contacts, users, and ENRICH. The Task Force met five times during the two year Work Programme.
(2) International Workshop (85 participants, from 22 European countries), Brasenose College (Oxford, UK), 24-26 March 1999. The workshops objectives were to:
 | bring together potential users and providers of data and information from sites across Europe; |
| develop a rationale for a network of long-term integrated monitoring sites across Europe, based on user requirements; |
| develop a strategy for the development of a European network; |
| identify research opportunities arising from closer links between sites across Europe; and |
| identify the next steps required to facilitate the development of a European network of sites. |
(3) Three Workshop follow-up activities were initiated:
| NoLIMITS Network Design: Towards a long-term integrated monitoring programme in Europe. The NoLIMITS Workshop identified the need for additional work on network design as a contribution to the development of an implementation plan for the network. This activity wrote a paper on network design for publication in a scientific journal. A sub-contract was issued to Marco Ferretti of LINNAEA ambiente (Firenze, Italy) to draft the article with the NoLIMITS Team. |
| Earth observation requirements for in-situ measurements from long-term integrated monitoring sites in Europe. A working group was established to identify specific requirements for in situ data in relation to opportunities and applications arising from the use of EO data. The working group focused on a limited number of specific issues. The main objective was to: define a hierarchy of in situ measurements (covering issues of scale, resolution and classification system if appropriate) and among these identify a core set which can be used in a range of different applications using EO data. The following subsidiary objectives were also considered to: 1) make recommendations concerning the importance of harmonization of in situ measurements; 2) summarise problems related to the scaling-up from site-specific information using the (synoptic) information from space; 3) establish a better contact/interface with CEOS CAL/VAL for identification of common interests and exchange expertise; and 4) collect ideas for a Framework 5 proposal to demonstrate a good example of cooperation between the EO and in situ communities. The Working Group was Chaired by Alan Belward (Head of the Global Vegetation Monitoring Unit, SAU, Ispra, Italy). The group met twice on 30 September 1999 and in November 1999. Meetings were organised by Giancarlo Maracci (CEO, Ispra, Italy). |
| Long term integrated monitoring sites in Europe and their role in exploring links between climate, ecosystems and human health. This study examined information requirements for predicting the human health impacts of global environmental change. The work focused on the value of long-term integrated monitoring and assessed the role that the data derived from fixed-sites may have in interpreting existing human health data and in providing models and tools for assessing the future effects of global change on human health. The objectives of this work were to: 1) Define the role that long-term integrated monitoring sites have in the interpretation, detection and forecasting of climate change impacts on human health; 2) Identify environmental, land-use, biodiversity, water, and other measurements or indicators necessary to detect early changes in factors or processes influencing climate controlled impacts on human health; 3) Make specific recommendations concerning the design of a site network, including a consideration of the number of sites, the distribution of sites, habitat coverage and types of measurements; 4) Identify the current existing networks which are monitoring the above selected indicators and create a map of site distribution; 5) Identify monitoring gaps; 6) Identify potential sites where direct links between environmental change and human health can be established; and 7) Identify priority areas for research and development which will enhance the development of the network in order to meet requirements in relation to human health issues. The study was contracted to Bettina Menne at the World Health Organisation (Rome) and a small team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study started in October 1999 and was completed in January 2000. |
(4) A prototype Information Exchange Network has been developed to promote the exchange of information between sites, and between sites and end-users. NoLIMITS should help to develop standard approaches to the presentation of meta-data and summary information (indicators) and to encourage sites to evolve towards mutually consistent programmes of measurements. The eventual Information Exchange Network will be self-sustaining and provide a focus for the networking of European long-term monitoring sites. The Network will be a dispersed system with centralised server functions (possibly with regional nodes) which provides links to all sites in the Network. The central server(s) will contain NoLIMITS background information and copies of all reports arising from the programme. Individual sites (or groups of sites) will set-up and maintain their own pages, technical assistance will be provided where necessary. Data and information which might be included on site pages include: metadata on data collections; summary information and/or indicators; research initiatives; and links to other NoLIMITS participants.
| Month 1 - First Task Force meeting - Cumbria, UK, 04-05 March 1998 | Done |
| Month 3 - Launch NoLIMITS Web pages | Done |
| Month 4 - Complete mailing list of potentially interested parties | Done |
| Month 4 - Invite registration of interest in the NoLIMITS concept | Done |
| Month 6 - Complete database of site contacts | Done |
| Month 7 - Begin consultations with key users - EEA 02 September 1998 | Done |
| Month 7 - Second Task Force meeting - Budapest, 11 September 1998 | Done |
| Month 11 - Third Task Force meeting - Ispra, Italy, 05 February 1999 | Done |
| Month 12 - Progress Report to EC and Information Exchange Network launched | Done |
| Month 13 - NoLIMITS International Workshop - 24-26 March 1999 | Done |
| Month 15 - Fourth Task Force meeting - Rome, 14 May 1999 | Done |
| Month 16 - Workshop report | Done |
| Month 18 - Sub-contracts issued for Workshop follow-up activities | Done |
| Month 21 - Fifth Task Force meeting - Helsinki, 30 November 1999 | Done |
| Month 21 - Information Exchange Network operational | Ongoing |
| Month 22 - Reports to be delivered by Sub-contractors | Done |
| Month 24 - Final Report and NoLIMITS Strategy to EC | Done |
| Report 1: NoLIMITS Final Report and Strategic Plan |
| Report 2: NoLIMITS User Requirements |
| Report 3: Using models in NoLIMITS |
| Report 4: Earth Observation and NoLIMITS |
| Report 5: Monitoring the health impacts of global climate change - available soon from WHO |
| Report 6: Biodiversity measurements and indicators for long-term integrated monitoring |
| Report 7: NoLIMITS Workshop Synthesis Report (Oxford, 24-26 March 1999) |
| Journal article on: NoLIMITS Network Design - Towards a Long-term Integrated Monitoring Programme in Europe |
| An Information Exchange Network |
| A glossy publicity brochure outlining the value of long-term integrated monitoring approaches at national and international levels. |
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