1. Sustainability Discussion Part I
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
Sustainability Discussion Part I
Steve Volz, CEOS SIT Chair
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
CEOS SIT-34
Session 2, Agenda Item 2.4
Miami, FL, USA
3 – 4 April 2019

2. Address 32-12 first, then 32-11 and 32-13.
Actions
Address first, then and

3. Virtual Constellations A Little History and Current Situation
VCs were created to address gaps in missions and inform agencies on how to plan for future missions, maintain continuity of measurements and climate records, and avoid duplication and overlap in EO missions.
Four Prototype VCs created at SIT-19 (Sep 2006) to “give balance across different domains and geographies with an eye on leverage of international linkages to support continuity of funding for missions at the time which were under some threat”
Ocean Surface Topography (NOAA and EUMETSAT) Atmospheric Composition (NASA)
Land Surface Imaging (USGS) Precipitation (JAXA and NASA)
VCs circa 2019
“The interim goal of a Constellation is to demonstrate the value of a collaborative partnership in addressing a key observational gap; the end goal is to sustain the routine collection of critical observations. Implementation of Constellation activities is ultimately dependent on the coordination of formal agreements among participating agencies.” Virtual Constellations Process Paper 2013

4. Virtual Constellations A Little History and Current Situation
Focused on specific observing targets or themes (ocean vector winds, precipitation, sea surface temperature, etc.), tied to a small set of technologies or singular measurement technology
Identified potential gaps in critical measurements and missions that existed around disciplines of land imaging, precipitation, altimetry, and atmospheric chemistry
Timeline:
Four prototypes
OST-VC: NOAA & EUMETSAT
AC-VC: NASA
LSI-VC: USGS
P-VC: JAXA & NASA
2008 VC Process Paper formalized and two additional VCs
OSVW-VC: NOAA, EUMETSAT & ISRO
OCR-VC: EC, NASA, ESA, ISRO
2011 CEOS Self Study
SST-VC: ESA, NOAA
2013 VC Process Paper updated
LSI-VC reorganization
SIT Chair (NASA) works with VCs to compile Statement of Deliverables in Support of 2015 GEOSS by CEOS
2015 GEOSS’ first decade comes to an end

5. VC Leadership 2006-2012 VC Timeline 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
SIT Chair Agency
ESA
NOAA
JAXA
NASA
AC-VC
NASA, ESA
ESA, NASA
LSI-VC
USGS
USGS, ISRO
USGS, ISRO, INPE (All new co leads)
USGS, ISRO, INPE
INPE, USGS
INPE, USGS, ISRO
OCR-VC
EC-JRC, NASA and JAXA
EC, NASA, JAXA
ESA, ISRO, NASA
OST-VC
NOAA, EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT, NASA
OSVW-VC
EUMETSAT, NOAA, ISRO
EUMETSAT, NOAA
P-VC
JAXA, NASA
SST-VC
ESA, NOAA

6. VC Leadership 2013-2019 VC Timeline 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
SIT Chair Agency
NASA
CNES
ESA
NOAA
AC-VC
NASA, ESA
NASA +?
Richard Eckman stepped down as ACC-VC co-chair after 6 years. New co-chair is Jay Al-Saadi (NASA)
LSI-VC
INPE, USGS, ISRO ?
Co-Chairs John Faudeen (USGS) and Julio Dalge (INPE) quit in 2013 and there were no replacements
USGS... (No ISRO/INPE)
USGS, GA, ESA
OCR-VC
NASA, NOAA, ESA
NASA, NOAA, ESA, (+ ISRO?)
NOAA, ESA, EUMETSAT
OST-VC
EUMETSAT, NASA
CNES, EUMETSAT
CNES,
OSVW-VC
EUMETSAT, NOAA, ISRO
EUMETSAT, NOAA
NOAA, ISRO, EUMETSAT
P-VC
JAXA, NASA
SST-VC
ESA, NOAA

7. 2018 VC Questionnaire and SIT-33
Goals
Try and assemble a common information set to take stock of the current status of each VC
Assess what observation objectives are being considered
Gather views on the suitability of the current VC reporting and feedback structure within CEOS
Determine how to best communicate the significant contributions of the VCs to the CEOS community
Identify shortcomings, and share best practices and successes
Selected of Key Statements in Response
Resources, best efforts are a challenge
Visibility VCs bring is important
Perceived difficulty in scaling to support broader themes
Rigorous gap analysis does influence agency planning
Strong engagement from thematic community required
Raison d’etre of CEOS, i.e. sustainment and enhancement of satellite EO, should remain paramount

8. Virtual Constellations Current Leadership
Success in defining and championing satellite constellations and ensuring observation continuity
Requested each VC to provide processes for leadership transition and refreshment

9. CEOS-32-12 VC Leadership Rotation
Proposals from the VCs

10. Virtual Constellations: A Proposal for Consideration
Propose for discussion and consideration a restructure of the CEOS Virtual Constellations:
Merge the four current ocean-related VCs into a single Ocean VC focused on creating an integrated and coordinated multi-variable picture of oceans.
Merge AC-VC and P-VC into an Atmosphere VC.
LSI-VC already follows this model, looking at a “family” of variables for integrated picture of the land, and is popised to become the Land VC.
Context:
This approach could better enable CEOS to support the community and user needs that draw on products and information from across different existing VCs.
The global satellite observing system has expanded significantly over the past 10+ years, and the selection of satellites has been informed in part by CEOS VC reports and assessments.
Proliferation of satellite systems have significantly lowered the risk of gaps in major satellite measurements, and increases the resiliency of the integrated global observing system to address measurement continuity risks.
VCs will continue to coordinate closely with thematic international science teams.
Demands by users for ready-to-use information drawing on multiple measurements and observations continues to increase.

11. Possible Merged Structure for CEOS VCs Current Measurement VCs
Observing System VCs
WGISS
WGCalVal

12. Issues and Opportunities
New construct will encourage satellite data coordination at the observing system level, done by satellite agencies and across agencies before developing tailored system information deliveries for individual user groups, making the integrated observations more user ready.
Cross VC consistency and interoperability of datasets brings the concept of CARD4L in0tegration to oceans data sets.
Reduces the number of stand-alone CEOS structures, allowing Agencies to focus resources and personnel to higher value CEOS working organizations, relieving some administrative burdens.
Allows Constellation focus on data and information continuity across different platforms and different measurement technologies
Issues:
Need to ensure smaller subset of three VCs do not lose sight of a primary driver of the VCs – focused attention on continuity of critical satellite measurements through generations of satellites.
Need to continue to assess potential gaps and address several different measurement technologies and orbits that may not exist today.

13. Ad Hoc Teams Current Situation
CEOS Terms of Reference and Governance and Processes state that if permanent mechanisms are judged to be insufficient for CEOS to undertake a particular activity, CEOS may establish, as mutually agreed and on an ad hoc basis, temporary mechanisms (known as Ad Hoc Teams) to investigate specific areas of interest, cooperation and coordination and to report at subsequent Plenary meetings.
The Plenary assigns short-term objectives to each Ad Hoc Team and defines the team lifetime when the team is created.
The primary reporting path for an Ad Hoc Team is either to the CEOS Chair or to the SIT Chair, as designated by the Plenary according to the purpose and function of the Ad Hoc Team.
Annually, the Plenary reviews all Ad Hoc Teams for continuation, termination, or transition to a permanent mechanism.
Conclusions resulting from CEOS Plenary sessions or the findings and recommendations of Ad Hoc Teams will be acted upon at the discretion of each CEOS Member.

14. CEOS and 32-13
Ad Hoc Teams
At this SIT we will identify progress existing Ad Hoc Teams are making to define end-state:
SDG AHT
SDCG for GFOI
GEOGLAM AHWG
We will hear from the teams on their progress and prospectus

15. Ad Hoc Teams
A Proposal
Propose a two-year initiation cycle for standing up new AHTs. The two-year initial cycle will allow for defining the objective, evaluating the merit and value of the objectives, and determining the appropriate path forward for continued support within CEOS. All other aspects of the AHT reporting process will remain, including annual reporting at Plenary.
History and Context:
The CEOS Ad Hoc Team process has been successful and productive.
CEOS has used the AHT process, or variations of it, to consider how best to support emerging needs and apply new capabilities where a permanent CEOS mechanism does not exist.
To date, CEOS has initiated as many as nine activities since 2008 to consider emerging needs.
Of these, at least four have been dispositioned, three into existing CEOS Working Groups, and twice with the creation of new groups, WGClimate (2010) and WGDisasters (2013).

16. Working Groups Current Situation No Proposed changes for Existing WGs
2-year leadership rotation detailed in the CEOS Working Group Process Paper
Agencies commit to leadership role (actually 4-year commitment with Vice Chair, followed by Chair)
WG leadership does require a sustained commitment from CEOS members, but we have been able to fill the seats.
No Proposed changes for Existing WGs

17. New Working Group A Proposal
Establish a new Working Group focused on Information Provision, to coordinate all activities related to user outreach and applications (e.g., forests, agriculture, freshwater, land degradation, urban, biodiversity, and more in the future).
Context:
All three existing AHTs focus on external user information and service delivery, in a class with the existing Working Groups on Disasters and Climate.
Expansion of such focused groups reflects the growing demand by the global community for specific, refined information products from CEOS and CEOS Agencies for operational decision-making.
The SDCG for GFOI and GEOGLAM activities are mature, externally focused activities relying on sustained delivery of CEOS data and information to meet user needs.

18. New WG Proposal: Issues and Opportunities
Different activities share a common expectation for CEOS to help them find and apply the right satellite observations datasets to address their operational needs.
WG can perform this filtering, definition, and data product subsetting by working with the user communities to understand the needs and by pulling appropriate data from any or all of the VCs.
Allows secretariat functions of the WG to consolidate across several similar service provision activities within a single WG, saving resources and the development of common practices executed across the activities.
Provides a path for more tasks as subgroups to existing permanent mechanism.
Issues:
We do not want to create another management layer on existing functioning activities (SDCG for GFOI, GEOGLAM)
A multi-activity working group will require Member resources and support

19. Proposal from SIT Chair Concept Paper
Working Group on Information Provision (TBC)
Chair and Vice Chair – 2 yrs
Secretariat
Forests (GFOI)
Lead(s) – no term
GEOS4M
GEO Wetlands
Biomass
Agriculture (GEOGLAM)
Biodiversity
Water
SDG …
Connections to :
WGISS – Interoperability
WGCV – Validated data
WGCapD – User Capacity
Ocean, Atmosphere, Land VCs
Issues raised with these examples

20. (Slightly) Revised Concept
Working Group on Information Provision (TBC)
Chair and Vice Chair – 2 yrs
Secretariat
GEOS4M
Lead(s) – no term
GEO Wetlands
Biodiversity
SDG Indicator 1
SDG Indicator 3
SDG Indicator 2 …
Original presentation
Forests (GFOI)
Lead(s) – no term
Agriculture (GEOGLAM)
Lead(s) – no term
“Mature Activities,” enjoying continuing support from CEOS through established data partnerships

21. A New Concept for VCs and WGs
Working Group on Information Provision to cover these and future efforts
WGISS
WGCalVal
WGCapD

22. Further discussion in Session 7

23. Backup slides

24. CEOS-32-12 Virtual Constellation Leadership Rotation
Proposals from the VCs
SST-VC
P-VC
AC-VC
LSI-VC

25. (copied from SST-VC Presentation)
The SST-VC Terms of Reference indicate:
The Co-Chairs shall be responsible for the overall management of the CEOS SST-VC, supported by the Secretary and SST-VC members.
Co-chairs and Secretary shall be elected by the SST-VC members on a 3 year renewable term following candidate proposal by a CEOS Agency Member. Election shall be by majority vote.
In order to maintain continuity, only one co-chair shall be replaced on a single occasion with at least 1 year between successive replacements where feasible.
As a principle, Co-Chairs shall rotate throughout CEOS Agencies with SST capability.
SST-VC members shall be proposed by CEOS principals.
The current membership list is identified and updated annually in the separate SST-VC Implementation Plan document

26. (copied from P-VC Presentation)
Co-Leads Steve Neeck/NASA and Riko Oki/JAXA were the original co- leads from Gail Skofronick-Jackson/NASA replaced Steve Neeck in 2019.
Discussions are underway to include a third co-lead from EUMETSAT
Our leads had a brief discussion on leadership rotation, thoughts include:
Co-leads from precipitation satellite agencies
Extended terms (in line with satellite mission lifetimes)
Documented approach to be determined

27. (copied from AC-VC Presentation)
All space agencies currently engaged in AC-VC focus topics are active, participating in the annual AC-VC meeting and during other meetings of opportunity (e.g., AGU/EGU, mission team meetings)
AC-VC#14 included over 20 agencies and multiple universities
Korea’s NIER is a notable new partner – joined CEOS 2018
China participation is becoming more regular and we continue to encourage broader participation
Commitments of participating agencies appear viable at this time
AC-VC Proposal for leadership cycle
No set term limits, but include a dedicated discussion of leadership rotation during annual AC-VC meeting
Allows flexibility to adapt to new focus activities being undertaken
Encourage a vice-chair period (6-12 months) to aid succession
Consider expanding to 3 co-chairs, given geostationary perspective
Nominally Europe, USA, and East Asia but extensible in future

28. LSI-VC (copied from LSI-VC Presentation)
LSI-VC revised Terms of Reference includes a Leadership Rotation Cycle. The leadership of the LSI-VC:
Will continue to consist of co-chairs endorsed by their agencies
Will nominally rotate, through an annual call for expressions of interest in joining the Chair team. However it will not be a strict requirement that the Chair rotate. In the event of a lack of nominations, for example.
These proposals build on past success to:
Provide broad representation in the leadership
Ensure sustainability of group, with co-chairs able to jointly provide the level of effort needed to continue the functions of the LSI-VC
Increase procedural clarity and transparency and around leadership appointments
Participation from a wide range of CEOS agencies, including the opportunity to provide leadership, is essential to the work of LSI-VC in all areas – CARD4L, requirements, gaps, observational coordination.
To date, focussing on analysis ready data, representation has been achieved with diverse agencies participating in disussions / negotiations of the CARD4L framework. This will need to be continued, including the opportunity for agencies that are prepared to materially support the leadership to step up to those roles.
The ability of the three co-chairs to provide resources in a form that suits them, and at times that suit them, has been a crucial advantage of the tri-chair arrangement. For example ESA fund the secretariat; GA fund A. Siqueira to coordinate CARD4L; and co-chairs changes of duties have been smoothed over, allowing continuity of effort.

29. OCR-VC (copied from OCR-VC Presentation)
All IOCCG/OCR-VC agencies are actively engaged, including NOAA, CSA, JAXA, KIOST, SIO, ESA, NASA, EC CMEMS, EUMETSAT etc.
Agencies/members meet 2-3 times per year, including at the annual IOCCG meetings and 1-2 Executive Committee meetings (in conjunction with other meetings IOCS, Ocean Sciences, Ocean Optics, and through telecons)
Strong synergies with WGCV, WGClimate, COVERAGE initiative, and other aquatic VCs
VC-09 deliverable realized in modular and coordinated manner across the OCR-VC agencies
No obstacles to the future viability –activities supported under IOCCG