WIFORCE Data Support Centre

Sweden has unique assets in the form of extensive forest-related data from environmental monitoring, research, public authorities and industry. At the same time, many data sources are currently scattered across different systems and are often used in isolation.

Many of the most important questions in forest research today cannot be answered using individual datasets or single research disciplines alone.

To understand how forests are affected by a changing climate, researchers need to combine information from areas such as genetics, biodiversity, soil conditions, hydrology, remote sensing and forest management. This requires both access to data and the ability to analyse large and complex datasets.

By making data more accessible and easier to combine, the WIFORCE Data Support Centre creates new opportunities for research that has previously been difficult or impossible to conduct.

A unique initiative

Bringing together data from multiple sources

The centre is developing a common entry point to data from research, public authorities, industry and other relevant data sources. This will make it easier to discover, combine and reuse data in new research projects.

Connecting forest research and AI

Through collaborations with leading national environments in artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, researchers gain access to expertise and resources that have previously been difficult to reach within forest research. These include Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), Sweden’s largest research programme.

Providing access to advanced computing resources

The Data Support Centre helps researchers make use of powerful resources for analysis, modelling and the management of large datasets. Through collaborations including HPC2N, a national centre for high-performance computing at Umeå University, researchers gain access to both advanced computing capacity and specialist expertise for data-intensive research.

Enabling new interdisciplinary collaborations

Tomorrow’s research questions require knowledge from multiple fields. The Data Support Centre creates new opportunities for collaboration between researchers, organisations and disciplines.

Part of WIFORCE Arenas

WIFORCE Arenas brings together researchers and external stakeholders around shared research questions. The Data Support Centre makes it possible to find, share and analyse data from a wide range of sources.

Together, they form a research infrastructure that combines experiments, data and advanced analytics to generate knowledge for the future use and conservation of forests.

Want to learn more?

Are you a researcher, PhD student or partner interested in learning more about the support available through the Data Support Centre?