1. The ADC, the CBC and the UIC Where Should These Committees Be Interacting? Gary J. Foley, USEPA Co-Chair User Interface Committee July 20, 2006

2. Community of Practice A user-led community of stakeholders, from providers to the final beneficiaries of Earth observation data & information, with a common interest in specific aspects of societal benefits to be realized by GEOSS implementation.

3. Why CPs? no global mechanism to bring together actual users, potential users, researchers, producers and distributors of Earth Observation data & information; the absence of a coordinated and consistent global approach has resulted in impediments to information sharing & duplication of effort; and some information concerning the importance of the particular societal benefit area.

4. CP Membership representatives from GEO member states, participating international organizations and any other stakeholders/organisations having similar interests, goals, and/or objectives, working closely together to create a forum for efficient and effective intelligence and advice to be provided to GEO for the successful implementation of GEOSS.

5. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task AR-06-03, in part, will Identify architecture requirements, drawing from the user requirements identified in each societal benefit area and the outcome of Task DA-06-02. The UIC needs to interact with ADC on how the user requirements will be obtained for each societal benefit area.

6. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task AR-06-07 will Produce an inventory of existing in-situ observation networks Associate them with societal benefit areas as appropriate. The UIC will encourage its members to assist in this Task

7. Challenges for the CPs Engage a Spectrum of Users Draw in Leaders from across the Globe Involve Developing Countries (CBC – UIC Interaction) Specify User Requirements (ADC – UIC Interaction) Ultimately Show How to Measure Societal Benefits

8. The ADC, the CBC and the UIC Five Tasks Where These Committees Could Be Interacting?

9. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task AR-06-03 will, in part, Identify architecture requirements, drawing from the user requirements identified in each societal benefit area and the outcome of Task DA-06-02. The UIC, CBC and the ADC need to interact to ensure that the spectrum of users in both developing and developed countries are engaged in identifying requirements.

10. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task AR-06-07 will Produce an inventory of existing in-situ observation networks Associate them with societal benefit areas as appropriate. The UIC & CBC should encourage their members, and the CPs, to contribute to the inventory.

11. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task DA-06-04 will do the following Workshops with participants from developed and developing countries An initial version of an inventory of required data, metadata, products & services commonly required across diverse societal benefit areas A Findings and Recommendations document The UIC will encourage the CPs to contribute and ultimately use the inventory and Findings & Recommendations Document from this Task.

12. UIC Interest in ADC Tasks Task AR-07-P3 notes a prominent requirement for the Health, Ecosystem & Biodiversity SBAs, A prototype data access & analysis system for overlaying various data (e.g. species distribution, protected area boundaries, specimen locations) with remote sensing and other geospatial data. The UIC and its CPs should interact with the ADC on this Task.

13. UIC & ADC Interest in CBC Tasks Task CB-07-P1 will do the following Hold a symposium in early 2007 to define the capacity building activities for the next few years. Identify the best practice examples identifying gaps (infrastructure, education & training, institutional) Prepare a Strategy with recommendations for filling these gaps and on synergy & coordination of existing CB programs & initiatives. The CBC, UIC & ADC should (jointly?) review the results of the symposium and then the CB Strategy when available.