CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 1 Data Access and Integration: Global and Regional Initiatives and Client Perspectives Rapporteur’s First Thoughts Pre-WGISS 10 Workshop Peter Churchill

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 2 The First Report Two parts to the Rapporteur’s first report: o Short introduction to the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and one of its Working Groups, the Working Group on Information Systems and Services (WGISS) o First thoughts on what I’ve heard today (or at least what I thought I’d heard)

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 3 CEOS Objectives CEOS was formed in the mid 1980’s by the G7 Group of Nations: o To optimize the benefits of space borne Earth observations through cooperation of its Members in mission planning and in the development of compatible data products, formats, services, applications and policies; o To serve as a focal point for international coordination of space- related Earth observation activities; o To exchange policy and technical information to encourage complementarity and compatibility among space borne Earth observation systems and the data received from them.

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 4 What is WGISS? WGISS is one of the CEOS working groups, which deals with Global Earth Observation data,Information Systems and Services WGISS: Working Group on Information Systems and Services WGCV: Working Group on Calibration and Validation SIT: Strategic Implementation Team for IGOS CEOS WGCVWGISSSIT Ad Hoc WG Disaster Mang’t Ad Hoc WG Ed. & Training

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 5 WGISS Objectives o To facilitate EO data and information management and services for users and data providers in dealing with global, regional and local issues. o To address in particular the capture, description, processing, access, retrieval, utilization, maintenance and exchange of spaceborne Earth observation data and supporting ancillary and auxiliary data and information, enabling improved interoperability and interconnectivity of information systems and services.

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 6 WGISS specific goals o Enable Earth observation data and information services to be more accessible and usable to data providers and data users world-wide through international co-ordination; o Enhance the complementarity, interoperability, and standardization of Earth observation data and information management and services; o Foster easier exchange of Earth observation data and information through networks and other means, to meet the requirements of users and data providers.

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 7 Who are involved? o Members: Governmental organizations that are international or national in nature and are responsible for a civil spaceborne Earth observations programme currently operating, or at least in Phase B or equivalent of system development.

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 8 Who are involved? o Associates: (1) Governmental organizations that are international or national in nature and currently have a civil space- segment activity in Phase A/pre-Phase A or equivalent of system development, or a significant ground- segment activity that supports CEOS objectives. (2) Scientific or governmental bodies that are international in nature and currently have a significant programmatic activity that supports CEOS objectives

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 9 WGISS Subgroups o Access Subgroup To enable Earth observation data and information services to be more accessible, interoperable and inter- usable to data providers and data users world-wide through international co-ordination. o Data Subgroup To enhance the complementarity, interoperability and standardization of Earth observation data and information management and services. o Network Subgroup To foster easier exchange of Earth observation data and information through networks, to meet the requirements of users and data providers.

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 10 First Thoughts o WGISS and the SDI’s presented today have much in common n Both deal with the full set of parts defined by Drew Clark: – www sites – Define areas of interest – Download selected data – Integrate own data – Apply web mapping tools n WGISS primarily deals with EO data – but this is just another form of geographic information, and WGISS has been seeking improved relationships with the wider GI world – E.g. OGC o As a result WGISS and other SDI’s have many common areas of technical development (interoperability, data visualisation, meta data, networks.....) o CEOS is dealing more and more with the requirements of International scienc community, and is attemptng to address their requirements – Terrestrial carbon cycle, oceans, disaster management

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 11 First Thoughts Policy: o Data Policy: n Is a key to the success of a SDI n Clear, underlying data policies need to be defined n One data policy may not suit all areas / countries; an inappropriate data policy will actively discourage some users o Enacting Policy: n There are a variety of policy drivers for the formation of an SDI, from Presidential command, legal requirement to nothing at all o Policy as a Driver: n Addressing sectorial (strategic) policy as a main driver for a SDI can be an important element of success n International Treaties may be the most important drivers for international SDI’s – They are trans-boundary – They drive national policy

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 12 First Thoughts Business Case: o “Killer Application”: n Killer applications (apart from the weather) have yet to be found n If we’ve not found one yet n Need to demonstrate “worth” – a business plan based on finance saing / gain, or strategic need o Involvement of Users n A better approach seems to be to involve customers for the information to be produced at the earliest stages of the development of SDI’s n Puts a break on the tempting tendancy towards “technology push” and focus on the information to be produced, rather than the SDI itself n Encourages “cradle to grave” strategies – From data to information – From research to operational – From information to educational material o Demonstrations: n Focussed, and limited demonstrations may be a good way forward in developing the business case

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 13 First Thoughts Technology: o Development: n Keeping up with a very rapidly developing technology is extremely difficult n In an operational environment this is even tougher – Issue of understanding the development – Issue of trusting the development n There are a lot of tools out there, which are keeping up with technology, and are freely available o Standards: n With the rapidly developing technology, standards are falling well behind the current status n De facto standards are emerging to keep pace with the development o Areas for Consideration: n Two key areas have to be better addressed n 1. Access to existing data sets n 2. Improving the completeness / scope of the data sets

CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services - 14 First Thoughts Commercial Organisations: o Commercial Devlopments: n There is considerable development of tools and techniques in the commercial world – OGC is one such initiative n These will / could become de facto standards, and could benefit SDI’s o Commercial Involvement: n Commercial involvement in SDI’s has been shown to benefit their promotion and development n Some governmental organisations have difficulties working fully with the commercial world