GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan 5.4 Data Sharing The societal benefits of Earth observations cannot be achieved without data sharing. The following are the GEOSS data-sharing principles: There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata and products shared within GEOSS, recognizing relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation. All shared data, metadata and products will be made available with minimum time delay and at minimum cost. All shared data, metadata and products being free of charge or no more than cost of reproduction will be encouraged for research and education.

Task DA-06-01 GEOSS Data Sharing Principles Invite experts to identify steps required to further the practical application of the agreed GEOSS data sharing principles. This Task will be coordinated with the Capacity Building Committee to ensure data access for Capacity Building.

Progress on Task DA-06-01 June 2006: The GEO secretariat contacted CODATA, (the Committee on Data for Science and Technology), and discussed with them the possibility of being a co-lead with the GEO secretariat on this task. http://www.codata.org Oct 06 - mid Feb 07: Plans for a ”White Paper” were drafted identifying options for implementing the GEOSS data sharing principles. Feb 07 – Sept 07: The “WHITE PAPER AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR THE GEOSS DATA SHARING PRINCIPLES” was prepared by a CODATA drafting team.

Progress on Task DA-06-01 12-13 Sept 2007: The draft “White Paper” was discussed during an ADC / CODATA Workshop held in Washington on 13th Sept.. Sept 07 – mid Jan 08: Update of White Paper in the light of comments made during and after the ADC/CODATA Workshop and during a GEO IV CODATA side event. By 25 Jan 2008: Following Announcement at GEO IV, distribution of updated version to ADC and other GEO Committees with invitation for comments.

The Process for Recognition of the Paper by GEO Members and Participating Organisations & Implementation of the elements listed in the Paper Following receipt of comments by the GEO Committees the paper should be distributed to GEO Principals with a request to have the Paper passed on within Member Countries and Participating Organisations to their respective experts for comments (deadline end-March '08). Update of the paper following comments by Members and POs. (by mid-end April '08) In parallel, the dialogue with experts identified in Members and POs should be started on the compatibility between White Paper guidelines and THEIR current data sharing practices.

The Process for Recognition of the Paper by GEO Members and Participating Organisations & Implementation of the elements listed in the Paper Establishment of an implementation strategy/plan for the guidelines (May/June '08) White paper together with implementation strategy (outcome of dialogue) should be prepared for July Executive Committee meeting Refinement of papers following discussions at ExCom level and potential further consultation (September '08) Submission of sharing principles and guidelines with implementation plan to GEO Plenary V for discussion and possibly acceptance (October '08)

Draft White Paper: Promoting implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles through the full and open exchange of data 1) In order for a system to become an official component or element of GEOSS, it needs to provide “full and open” access to data, metadata, and products consistent with the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and with other technical requirements established by GEO.

Draft White Paper: Encouraging GEOSS users to reuse and re-disseminate shared data 2) For GEOSS to realize its vision and potential, it is essential that the full and open exchange of data called for in the Data Sharing Principles apply to GEOSS data, metadata, and products even after such data are disseminated to users. Users need to be able to integrate, reuse, and re-disseminate data and information with minimal restrictions in order to achieve maximum results in the GEOSS societal benefit areas. (…continued)

Draft White Paper: Ensuring consistency with other national laws and policies & internat. agreements 3) All GEO Member States and Participating Organizations must abide by various specific restrictions on the dissemination and use of data and information based on national laws and policies and international agreements. Such restrictions pertain mainly to concerns regarding the protection of: national security, proprietary interests, privacy, confidentiality, indigenous rights, and conservation of sensitive ecological, archaeological, or cultural resources. (…continued)

Draft White Paper: Implementing pricing policies consistent with the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles 4) The pricing of GEOSS data, metadata, and products should be based on the premise that the data and information within GEOSS is a public good for public-interest use in the nine societal benefit areas. GEO, together with its GEOSS data providers, should set standards for “minimum cost” based on this premise. (…continued)

Draft White Paper: Reducing the time delays for making data available through GEOSS 5) GEO should promote “minimal time delay” to data within GEOSS, depending on the type of data and application and the need for appropriate quality control. (…continued)

Draft White Paper: Promoting research and education uses of GEOSS data 6) GEO should develop and adopt clear definitions of “research” and “education,” focused on the planned use of data rather than the status of the user. a. Cost reductions provided for research and educational activities and for support of developing country applications should be documented, if possible. b. Users receiving data at reduced or no cost should be strongly encouraged to provide impact metrics and information regarding their use of the data.

Draft White Paper: Developing metrics and indicators for GEOSS data sharing activities 7) GEO should develop minimum standards for data usage metrics and indicators to ensure that the overall utility and impact of GEOSS data, products, and services can be objectively documented. (…continued)

Draft White Paper: Developing effective coordination and outreach mechanisms for implementing the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles 8) In order to implement the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles successfully, GEO needs to establish an internal organizational structure for promoting the established policies vis-à-vis the data providers and users. GEO should consider developing procedures to encourage the adherence of GEOSS elements to the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

Conclusions Full acceptance and implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles can bring significant benefits to the GEO Capacity Building efforts. However, to ensure these benefits are realised, the Capacity Building Committee will need to engage more fully with the task DA-06-01.