eNews

#02 2025

Optimising observation standards and data pipelines to enhance impact: The SAEON technical team leads the way

By Susan J. Van Rensburg & Amukelani Maluleke, NRF-SAEON & EFTEON

In a world faced with a rapidly changing climate caused by multiple anthropogenic drivers, the ability to collect, manage and interpret long-term environmental data is more critical than ever. While the African continent lags behind in having well-coordinated environmental observation networks focused on the long term, the value of South Africa’s commitment to the collection of environmental data through SAEON cannot be understated. This demands consistent monitoring, accurate measurement and transparent data processes to ensure reliable data sets that deliver meaningful societal impact. 

SAEON’s technical team is responsible for the collection of environmental data and routinely maintaining and calibrating the instruments in research platforms dotted throughout the country. The team recently took a leading role towards strengthening operational efficiency by participating in an intensive week-long workshop focused on optimising data collection, standardising methodologies and improving coordination across the core observation sites and the research infrastructures (RIs) hosted by SAEON – EFTEON, SMCRI and SAPRI.

Grasslands Node instrument technician, Kent Lawrence (centre), and EFTEON chief instrumentation technician, Abri de Buys (left), take participants through the rain gauge calibration procedure.

Abri de Buys (centre) highlights the steps to be followed for setting up an automatic weather station. These include standards and considerations for the placement of instruments on the tripod.

Driving standardisation and efficiency 

The collection of effective long-term environmental datasets requires consistency, efficiency and alignment with international best practices. As SAEON expands with the addition of hosted RIs and continues its vital long-term observations, the need for a well-coordinated approach has never been greater.

The workshop brought together 22 team members, including the technical experts and data specialists from SAEON’s uLwazi Node, to assess current operations, exchange knowledge and develop actionable recommendations. The focus was on training on common standardised instrument sets, enhancing the integration of instrumentation networks, refining standard operating procedures, and improving data pipelines to ensure quality long-term data to enable, support and facilitate global change science.

The forum provided the opportunity to harmonise approaches and methodologies used across different teams. This led to the identification of leverage points for enhancing data management and quality control processes. Specific and critical needs to enable more efficient outcomes and products also became evident.

SAEON technicians Tshililo Ramaswiela and Wynand Calitz, DSTI–HSRC SAEON Grasslands Node intern Naveet Bandu and EFTEON intern Loyiso Giqwa run a programme creating software to design a wiring diagram and direct how a weather station should collect data from instruments.

Makgethwa Masemola (2nd from right) selects instruments on Loggernet software for a wiring diagram in setting up a weather station under the guidance of SAEON Grasslands Node instrument technician, Kent Lawrence (right).

A future of optimised operations 

One of the most significant outcomes of the workshop was the recognition that a unified “One NRF: One SAEON” approach, including the hosted research infrastructures, is essential to improving efficiency. The team co-developed a set of recommendations and an action plan for standardisation that aligns SAEON’s technical operations with global best practices while ensuring that scientific needs are met. These provide deep, experience-based insights into operational requirements, from the bottom up, with the aim of informing strategic interventions required to optimise and elevate current SAEON operations. The recommendations will be presented to management for consideration.

Moreover, the workshop reinforced the importance of investing in the well-being and sustainability of SAEON’s workforce. Recommendations included enhancing safety measures, value propositions for field teams that address specific risks, administrative support needs associated with working under these conditions, as well as improving workload distribution to ensure that the technical staff continue to function optimally.

Moving forward 

By fostering collaboration between scientists, technicians and data specialists across its nodes and hosted research infrastructures, SAEON is strengthening its role as a leader in long-term environmental observation to address the societal Global Change Grand Challenge, ensuring that its data collection and management processes are world-class. These efforts will ultimately strengthen SAEON’s impact and place the organisation at the forefront of understanding global change through ensuring that the production of high-quality long-term environmental data remains a core duty that will continue to support critical research and decision-support for years to come.

The technical team extend their appreciation to SAEON’s management for supporting this transformative initiative, which paves the way for a stronger, more efficient and more impactful SAEON.

Dr Eugene Maswanganye (SAEON Fynbos Node technician – left) and Nokwanda Gule (SAEON Grasslands Node technician) participate in wiring up a weather station.

The forum provided the opportunity to harmonise approaches and methodologies used across different teams.

Some quotes from participants 

  • The workshop opened my eyes to why things are like they are, which is not possible in online working group discussions.
  • The opportunity provided a comfortable space to make contributions.
  • It has motivated me to register for a course in programming.
  • This revealed how we can learn from each other’s diverse experiences.
  • There are a lot of discrepancies between how everyone is tasked to get things done and subsequently how they are done. This platform allowed for open and informative discussions, which not only improve our quality of work but also our value within the organisation. 

SAEON Managing Director Dr Mary-Jane Bopape popped in to see how things were progressing. She told the participants: “You are all doing great work. You are the backbone of SAEON, and we appreciate your valuable contribution to the organisation.”