Division 2.6 Products dissemination and archiving

The service product dissemination strategy shall be based on a single entry point (one stop-shop) for each service to allow user access to products and information. The entry point for each service shall be a web portal providing a harmonised interface to any service component, independent from the physical locations of the data sources.

The important requirements shall include an unrestrictive user registration, effective product search and quick view, easy access to metadata including product descriptions, ability to visualize datasets, regional sub-setting, and data downloading in various formats.

The user access to Copernicus data and information shall be done through a heterogeneous collection of interfaces that shall be put in place by the various entrusted entities.

An efficient Copernicus data and information portal shall be developed with a view to make the different existing Copernicus dissemination platforms interoperable and to strengthen the overall Copernicus dissemination system. That objective will be fulfilled with the setting by the Commission of the ‘Data and Information Access Service’ (DIAS), making Copernicus data and information available to users through a cloud type of computing architecture.

All the products shall be archived and a fast access shall be guaranteed for the latest products.

The strategy for archiving shall be guided by user needs and requirements. All data products generated by the services shall be available permanently to allow traceability and reproducibility of results and findings. Observational datasets in particular, as well as reanalyses, shall be archived permanently. Appropriate measures shall be implemented to mitigate the risk of data loss or destruction.

User questions, complaints and suggestions shall be handled by a traceable system. A user support function shall deal with user queries interactively. This function shall be discharged through help desks at the premises of the entrusted entities for the services, complemented by user support at the data provider.

The entrusted entities shall ensure the interoperability of the service portals with the ‘copernicus.eu’ and the overall harmonization of dissemination services in coordination with the Commission.