Sensor management system (SMS): Open-source software for FAIR sensor metadata management in earth system sciences

Deriving reliable conclusions and insights from environmental observations urgently requires enrichment of the data with consistent and comprehensive metadata, including time-resolved context such as changing deployments, configurations, and maintenance actions. We have therefore developed the Sensor Management System (SMS), which provides a feature-rich platform for modeling even the most complex sensor systems and managing all sensor-related information across their life cycle. Each entity is described via well-defined terms like Devices, Platforms, and Configurations, as well as Sites that are further enhanced with attributes like instrument manufacturers, contact information, or measured quantities and complemented by a continuous history of system-related actions. By further linking the SMS to subsequent systems and services like a registry for Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) or controlled vocabularies (CVs) and establishing a community of end-users, the SMS provides the central element of a digital ecosystem and a transferable solution for practical sensor management across institutional contexts that fosters a more consistent, sustainable, and Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) provision of sensor-related metadata.