1. Workshop outcomes from the CEOS perspective
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
Workshop outcomes from the CEOS perspective
Steven Hosford
CEOS Executive Officer
13th November 2018

2. Xin chào from Tuan!
Tuan, CEOS Chair 2019
VNSC-VAST

3. Summary Introduction to CEOS Organisational structure
Freshwater in the CEOS context

4. 177 missions under development
Introduction to CEOS
Viewing Earth, serving society
The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) ensures international coordination of civil space-based Earth observation programmes
62 members and associate members
151 missions currently operating
177 missions under development

5. Introduction to CEOS Three primary objectives:
Optimise benefits of EO through cooperation between CEOS Agencies in mission planning and the development of compatible mission outputs
Provide a focal point for international coordination of space-based Earth observation
Serve as a forum for exchange for technical and policy information to encourage complementarity and compatibility among space- based Earth Observation systems

6. Organisational structure
CEOS Leadership Support roles Working Groups Virtual Constellations Ad-hoc Teams
European Commission
VNSC-VAST/Vietnam
ISRO/India

7. Freshwater in CEOS Some recent history … WSIST ad-hoc team stopped.
January GEOSS Water Strategy presented at GEO Ministerial
April 2014 (SIT) CEOS agencies requested to provide responses to the relevant recommendations – 3 agencies responded
Sep/Oct 2014 CEOS Water Strategy Implementation Study Team (SIT TW/Plenary) (WSIST) established
2015/2016 Work reviewed in Plenaries 29 and 30.
Plenary GEO’s User requirements evolving with the emergence of GEOGLOWS/Aquawatch/Blue Planet
WSIST ad-hoc team stopped.
Oversight of Freshwater theme given to SIT Chair.
SIT-32 Session bringing together GEOGLOWS, Aquawatch,
(Paris, April 2017) Water quality work. First proposal for a Freshwater from Space workshop.

8. Freshwater in CEOS SIT-32 Workshop Discussion paper Issues/Focus
Wkshp Objective: Better understanding by SAs of the needs for observations relevant to water  
Issues/Focus
“difficult … to coherently address the range of [observational] needs.” 
“[Representatives of major water related initiatives] … establish a more coherent dialogue with space agencies”
“suite of observational needs directly traceable to policy and service requirements”
“co-ordination among CEOS agencies to respond to these needs”

9. Freshwater in CEOS
Some potential outcomes (depending on the discussions over the next 2 days)
Consolidate a “community” around Freshwater from space, spanning
Thematic areas (EWVs)
SAs and representatives of major water related initiatives
Objective: establish a more coherent dialogue
Consolidate a common overview of Freshwater from space observational needs
directly traceable to policy and service requirements
Clear overview of current and upcoming missions that contribute to satisfy these needs
Facilitate coordination among CEOS agencies to respond to these needs

10. Freshwater in CEOS
Positive “Boundary Conditions” for the Freshwater theme
a politically important and visible parameter  
upcoming missions largely focused on this parameter from several of the major agencies, 
a growing maturity of technology/agency interest
Necessary conditions for success
FW community has Space Agency ownership and drive. Necessarily linked to agencies missions and their objectives,
… but shared with representatives of major water related initiatives (GEO/WMO/international science community activities)
Consolidate a broad, coherent overview of FW requirements to a Constellation/Architecture that spans the “Freshwater” theme allowing each mission to identify itself in a broader context