Adding value to big acoustic data from ocean observatories: Metadata, online processing, and a computing sandbox

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) operates ocean observatories on all three of Canada's coasts. The instruments produce 300 gigabytes of data per day with over 600 terabytes archived so far. The majority of this data is acoustic, both passive (335 TB) and active (20 TB). This demonstrates the unprecedented capability of cabled observatories to provide unlimited power and data for high bandwidth, continuous data acquisition. Handling this data is a challenge. Metadata, calibration, quality control, and access must be considered. The volume of data is too great for most users to handle. Even if they could store and process it, data transfer to users' computers is a limiting, and perhaps unnecessary step. To address these challenges, ONC has developed a data portal, known as Oceans 2.0, that includes on-demand user-configurable online previewing and processing and a computing “sandbox” where users can upload their own code to process the data. The data portal is now fully accessible by web services. The sandbox is a contained, secure environment with direct access to the data. This paper will present our experience and best practices, including use cases, from acquisition to adding value to the data with these new computing methods.