Second (Final) Report on EPOS-ICS Architecture

This deliverable describes the ICS-C final architecture. Based on user satisfaction with the architectural design and simple prototype of EPOS-PP (Preparatory Phase) the initial architecture was defined. During the period M1-M18 of EPOS-IP (Implementation Phase) the architecture was refined based on interactions with the TCS and presented at EPOS project meetings. During the period M19-M36 progressive iterative prototypes driven by evolving user requirements and aspirations have been developed allowing the architecture to be specified in much more detail and the components refined and implemented. For some components (ICS-D, CES) implementation is continuing because this requires especially close working with the TCS. Detailed work has been undertaken validating the ICS-C against the evolving and increasingly ambitious user requirements and – in particular – collecting the metadata describing the assets in the TCS to populate the catalog. The architecture has been designed using the latest advances in metadata (for the catalog) and architectural approach (microservices). A consistent spiral, agile systems development method has been used. As part of this work the teams of WP6 and WP7 of EPOS – each spread across several organisations – have been integrated into a functioning unit with appropriate skills and abilities for the tasks. There has been some delay in recruitment to provide the human resources required but this has been overcome and the work is on schedule