1. Data Utilization Sub Group Update GEO-4 Meeting Data Utilization Sub Group Tokyo, Japan 22 April 2004 Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

2. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations 22 April 2004 GEO-4 SGDU 2 From Earth observation to socio-economic benefits

3. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations 22 April 2004 GEO-4 SGDU 3 1.GEO urges each country to invest in local and national data utilisation activities to fully benefit from the international EO investments. 2.Data utilisation practices, approaches and systems - and not only data - must be shared between countries and agencies. 3.GEO encourages international and multi-national organisations to develop and strengthen formal agreements by which data utilization products and services are provided. GEO-3 outcome Scope of GEO : data transformation into useful information

4. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations 22 April 2004 GEO-4 SGDU 4 GEOSS must address data utilisation needs Data policies must ensure data access, timeliness, continuity and quality at reasonable cost Data archiving is essential for many applications; rescue of historical records to digital formats is crucial for status and trends GEO must promote the protection of radio-frequencies required for EO in particular the 23.6-24 GHz band GEO must promote investments in data utilisation R&D Technical aspects are required for effective data utilisation (a) coding and format standards (b) inter-operability (c) calibration, QA-QC

5. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations 22 April 2004 GEO-4 SGDU 5 Future work of the SGDU Support the IPTT Complete the skills inventory of SGDU members Prepare short summaries of data policies by major domain (not the 9 socio-economic benefit areas, as data policies are not articulated along these areas) Prepare some scenarios as part of Chapter 4.