The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) is currently turning towards big data technology as part of an initiative called the "Blueprint for Marine Science 2050".

WAMSI is Australia's leading marine research organization. It conducts research into climate change, biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, biotechnology and oceanography.

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The organization intends to take advantage of big data technology to benefit researchers, governments, the industry as well as the environment.

"Marine science is a broad church of disciplines-there are oceanographers, researchers looking into human environmental impacts, marine biologists and so on, and these are all producing large quantities of their own particular data sets." said Luke Edwards, WAMSI's data manager.

"As well as this, there's a great variety of data formats and that's what can really make things difficult."

Edwards added that big data will enable them to make use of all the information collected.

"Part of the blueprint is about creating common standards across WA, so then you can start making better use of that data." said Edwards.

"You don't really just want to use the data you've collected once and then not be able to use it again-it's about being able to reuse it,"

According to a report, Western Australia has about 20,000 kilometers of coastline, which is almost one third of the country.

"The blueprint is crucial in terms of forward planning," said Edwards.

"WA has a huge coastline, which makes us a natural 'hub' for this type of push in marine science, which holds benefits for both WA and Australia.

"WAMSI in particular has been really proactive in terms of coordinating research, so this makes it a natural vehicle to coordinate marine science across WA." Edwards continued.

Other industries and research organizations that are benefiting from the use of big data include healthcare and medicine, the study of human genome, astronomy, online services and businesses.

TagsBig Data, WAMSI, Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Marine science, Blueprint for Marine Science 2050, WA, Western Australia