The WISER Research Structure

A novel web-based repository of data sources & GHG evaluation frameworks will be developed. Therein, a data ontology will be defined to streamline access and automate real-time updates. This repository will also offer structured digital spaces to store new data from users of the digital ecosystem. When possible, users will have an open access to descriptions of data sources to promote reusability & trust. Additionally, uncertainty assessment methods will be developed to inform on the accuracy of GHG assessments from different organisations.

Existing GHG assessment tools will be adapted to increase their data interoperability with the digital ecosystem while respecting the key guidelines of assessment frameworks (e.g. GHG protocols). Furthermore, new tailor-made computation Web services will be developed for implementation partners in three prototypes. This includes the identification of key inputs & outputs required to ensure interoperability and thus allow for contributions from external users or connections to other computation options.

New communication services (e.g. interoperable APIs providing data access to user interfaces & dashboards) will be developed to enable communication between existing data sources (SP1), the Knowledge Graph (SP4), and reliable GHG evaluations from the assessment toolbox (SP2) with public & private Swiss organisations. The SP3 services will thus facilitate connections between various Web services that meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.

A technological solution to facilitate access to diverse GHG data sources and assessment standards. The KG creates a common understanding of the different aspects of each GHG data source and assessment standard while also highlighting their similarities. Moreover, the KG preserves expert knowledge (in a machine-understandable way) about computational tools for emissions assessments (SP2), so experts can find them and use them more easily. Hence, the WISER KG will simplify the automated exchange of information, which should help reduce the time and effort needed to perform GHG assessments. This work is currently being carried out by computer scientists at the University of St. Gallen in close collaboration with sustainability experts in the consortium.

Three different dashboard prototypes will be developed to showcase key features that are enabled by the WISER digital ecosystem. These prototypes will help organisations that want to assess the GHG emissions of manufacturing sites (SP5), procurement of ICT equipment in cities (SP6) and electricity use in data centres (SP7). These dashboard will mainly help users in filtering and ranking the most relevant GHG emission factors from different data sources for various assessment contexts (e.g. different countries, standards, years).

A dedicated page of the web site will be soon released to present the dashboards and their key features.

Since WISER aims at providing services for all types of businesses (multinationals, SMEs, start-ups) and public organisations, it is crucial to ensure that the digital ecosystem is perceived as useful by the different target groups. Only through adoption of the solution by the target groups can the benefits for the WISER digital ecosystem be unlocked. To maximise the fit between what the target audience needs and what WISER can offer, SP8 works closely with the implementation partners and further actors from a variety of industries. This work will identify and validate a valuable need-solution-fit and value proposition. Furthermore, different business models will be explored to ensure the economic attractiveness of WISER and the long-term viability of its digital ecosystem.