Cyberinfrastructure for Observatory and Monitoring Networks: A Case Study from the TEAM Network

Environmental-monitoring and observatory networks currently operating or under development at the national, regional, and global scales have the potential to provide an unprecedented understanding of our natural environment and the threats that endanger it. The breadth of these networks, as well as advances in technology (e.g., from mobile devices to in situ sensors and multidimensional satellite sensor data), will result in larger volumes of data and more complex data sets than ever before. All of these networks require robust cyberinfrastructure to support their varying mission, governance, operational, and scientific objectives. In this article, we use the Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network as a fully functional environmental-monitoring network case study to highlight the key cyberinfrastructure components and services that support the network. We provide valuable lessons from our experience building the TEAM Network cyberinfrastructure and suggest future improvements that have broad applicability for other observatory and monitoring networks.