VIRCOLA: A tool for visualization and cross-discipline collaboration related to CO2 storage

The VIRCOLA project addresses important challenges, which arise in cross-disciplinary research related to subsurface storage of CO2. The specific background for the VIRCOLA project is the research work performed in the SUCCESS centre (Subsurface CO2 storage - Critical Elements and Superior Strategy). One of the case studies in the SUCCESS centre is the Longyearbyen CO2 Lab in Svalbard. A key challenge in working with a large, multidisciplinary project such as SUCCESS is large amount of available data. It is also challenging to utilize and visualize the multi-scale and multimodal data types. Additionally, it is a challenge with regards to effective collaboration as researchers are located at different locations. Our approach involves three major components: the VIRCOLA data repository, a visualization platform for cross discipline research, and finally a remote collaboration platform to access to visualizations from anywhere. We demonstrated our approach for partner researchers. The result has been promising, as researchers were enthusiastic to apply our approach in their research within the center, and our test demonstrations were encouraging to our partners. It is our aim to adapt our approach on a national scale, i.e. in other large CO2 research projects on the Norwegian shelf.