# Integrating Inland and Coastal Water Quality Data for Actionable Knowledge
## 4 Data Integration
### Integration Framework  
The development of continuous, low-cost sensor networks, combined with wireless and cellular technology and big data analytics, has provided the opportunity to revolutionize decision making, using real-time data across wide ranges of spatial and temporal scales (Figure 7). Examples of real-time decision making from integrated data already include smart cities that manage municipal assets and optimize financial resource allocation through widespread use of data integration [149; 150; 151] and basin-wide water quality sensor integration, such as Clemson University's Intelligent River Project in the South eastern United States [152]. The goal of smart cities is to utilize technology to manage infrastructure and resources efficiently. Sensor and citizen-provided data are analyzed to manage key infrastructure (e.g., buildings, road networks) and services (e.g., public transportation systems, waste management, law enforcement) for their communities. The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology to optimize the efficiency of city operations and enable real-time citizen feedback. The goal of Intelligent River is to deploy observation instruments that cover an entire river basin, such as the Savannah River and its reservoirs, with sensor technology, and combined with satellite data and additional continuous water quality monitoring sondes, in one easy-to-use data portal. Hybrid or mixed modeling approaches, that incorporate monitoring data, can also be used within integration frameworks. In this approach, real-time data are used to update forecasting models, such as watershed and water quality models. These same models complement sensor networks to fill data gaps, and provide estimates where sensor networks are not deployed or have missing data. An example of a fully integrated monitoring and modeling platform is ODYSSEA ([[http://odysseaplatform.eu/](http://odysseaplatform.eu/)]([http://odysseaplatform.eu/](http://odysseaplatform.eu/)), accessed on July 2021) (Figure 8). The ODYSSEA platform is connected constantly with existing observational systems, models, and databases in the Mediterranean Sea, building on key initiatives, such as Copernicus, Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), among others. Further, the platform is connected to nine regional pilot observatories where novel monitoring systems are installed (to increase spatial and temporal resolution). Copernicus data and products are automatically and regularly fetched, organized, harmonized, and combined with in situ, and meteorological information from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and distributed to enhance monitoring capabilities of water quality issues. The integrated framework described here for global and regional scale is also implemented by other platforms at local scales. An example is the HiSea platform ([[http://hiseaproject.com](http://hiseaproject.com)]([http://hiseaproject.com](http://hiseaproject.com)), accessed on July 2021) that delivers high resolution information obtained through the integration of in situ, remote sensing, and modeled data and the downscaling of Copernicus and NOAA products. Copernicus provides information at a regional scale that cannot be used to properly describe the system dynamics at the local scale. This is even more true for estuaries, coastal lagoons, and inland waters. HiSea aims to remove the barriers by making information easily accessible to a broader public through access to a single platform. Figure 7: Continuum of temporal and spatial scale (resolution) and extent from molecular processes to large-scale hydrology and global climate processes. Projects requiring full integration need to be chosen selectively because of limited resources in operationalizing fully integrated monitoring networks. In addition, adapting the scale of the integration will be necessary depending on the type of decision and potential impact.