The objective of the Operational Coordination component of IIOE-2 is to develop and integrate web-based tools, databases and partnerships to enable a sufficient level of cooperation, resource-sharing, scientific collaboration and capacity alignment. The Operational Coordination Working Group works collaboratively with other IIOE-2 Working Groups, committees and other stakeholders to achieve this goal.

Some of the specific objectives of this Working Group are as below:

• Establish a central web-based expedition planning utility for operational coordination and cruise archiving, linked to the IIOE-2 website.
• Establish an opportunity/volunteer vessel database of commercial-sector ships and fixed platforms available for research and observations.
• Establish a database of "in-kind" resource support from institutions, national fleets, and funding agencies, including from both planned deployments and resources available through an application process.
• Establish a review process to ensure complete and usable data inputs from the research community into integrated IIOE-2 expedition planning tools.
• Utilize existing JCOMMOPS operations that support maintenance of observation systems in the Indian Ocean for shared use by IIOE-2 PIs.
• Evaluate current consensus on use of certified reference materials and standard analytical methods where consistent use of such methods will likely impact the quality of inter-study data comparison and integration across IIOE-2 research.
• Provide access to references on recommended methods and sources for acquiring calibration materials.
• Establish a process for reviewing planned and developing research projects toward discovering, communicating and enabling opportunities for collaboration among PIs.
• Provide operational support to capacity development efforts identified and prioritized by the IIOE-2 Capacity Development Working Group and Steering Committee.

To cater to the coordination of the above varied tasks, a two-tier structure for this Working Group has been developed, comprising a Core Group of Chairs/Co-Chairs of the Working Groups 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and an Associate Group comprising nominated members. This Working Group is headed by Dr. Shailesh Nayak (shailesh@moes.gov.in), Distinguished Scientist at India's Ministry of Earth Sciences. The composition of this Working Group is as below:

Terms of Reference

• Establish a central web-based expedition planning utility for operational coordinationand cruise archiving, linked to the IIOE-2 website.
• Establish an opportunity/volunteer vessel database of commercial-sector ships andfixed platforms available for research and observations.
• Establish a database of "in-kind" resource support from institutions, national fleets,and funding agencies, including from both planned deployments and resources availablethrough an application process.
• Establish a review process to ensure complete and usable data inputs from the researchcommunity into integrated IIOE-2 expedition planning tools.
• Utilize existing JCOMMOPS operations that support maintenance of observationsystems in the Indian Ocean for shared use by IIOE-2 PIs.
• Evaluate current consensus on use of certified reference materials and standardanalytical methods where consistent use of such methods will likely impact the qualityof inter-study data comparison and integration across IIOE-2 research.
• Provide access to references on recommended methods and sources for acquiringcalibration materials.
• Establish a process for reviewing planned and developing research projects towarddiscovering, communicating and enabling opportunities for collaboration among PIs.
• Provide operational support to capacity development efforts identified and prioritizedby the Capacity Development Working Group.