- The Forest Data Space (FDS) uses a decentralized infrastructure for collaboration: Data is not stored or controlled centrally, but at the sources.
- Data is exchanged directly between appropriate partners
- To ensure only trusted data sharing and exchange take place, the FDS bases access to data on commonly agreed principles, which each partner has to agree on
Components of the FDS
Connector
The connector is the central technical component for secure and trusted data exchange, through which participants provide and access data in the FDS. It handles the data according to policies defined by the data owner in terms of access and usage rights, thus ensuring its sovereignty. The Connectors can be certified, e.g. through the IDSA certification programme, to prevent malfunction and to guarantee their integrity and compliance.
Identity Providers
An identity provider creates, maintains, manages, and validates identity information for clients and also provides authentication services for trusted applications within a federated or distributed network.
Metadata Brokers
Enables data consumers to find assets that have previously been published through a connector into the FDS.
Vocabulary Providers
A vocabulary provides the shared terms according to which data is systematically organised, categorised, and labelled in the FDS. It is essential for interoperability. Vocabulary providers manage and offer vocabularies and ontologies, reference data models and metadata to annotate and classify data sets, describe the data sets’ relationships, and define possible constraints.
Clearing House
A clearing house allows participants to keep control of the operations that are being carried out within the FDS..
App Stores
Enables data consumers to find assets that have previously been published through a connector into the FDS.App stores offer applications approved by the governing bodies of the FDS, which are integrated into connectors to communicate and perform tasks such as data transformation, aggregation, and analysis, or can be deployed as standalone smart services that utilize a connector.
Smart Services
The FDS will contain smart services such as AI-based Decision Support and is expected to include marketplaces for forestry equipment, trackable timber trade and jobs, and other integration.