Integrating CERIF entities in a multidisciplinary e-infrastructure for environmental research data

The paper proposes different solutions to integrate CERIF in the environmental dataset domain, based on the quality of semantic mapping as well as on the characteristics of the CERIF data model. A two-way crosswalk is described resulting in the identification of a core of corresponding metadata and a proposal of extensions of the CERIF model. Extensions of ISO concepts are also described to provide contextual research information in the domain of environmental research data. Finally, the crosswalk has been implemented in the GI-cat discovery broker framework. Successful tests demonstrated the possibility for CERIF information to be integrated in ISO compliant infrastructures and for INSPIRE information to be captured in CERIF.