Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS)

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1 Background
2 Synopsis
3 Recent Events
4 Potential
5 Participating Organisations
6 External links

[edit] Background

Earth observation systems consist of tools that provide measurements of air, water, and land. These measurements may be made on the ground, from the air, or from space by satellite. While these measurements have been observed historically in isolation, the current Global Earth Observing System of System (GEOSS) effort is designed to consider and analyse these elements together and to study their interactions.

[edit] Synopsis

The Global Earth Observing System of System (GEOSS) is a concept with potentially wide-reaching applications relating to human health, environmental quality and stewardship, disaster preparedness and recovery, and unification of humankind's varied interests, needs and wants.

[edit] Recent Events

On February 16, 2005, 61 countries agreed to a plan that, over the next 10 years, will revolutionize the understanding of Earth and how it works. Agreement for a 10-year implementation plan for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, known as GEOSS, was reached by member countries of the Group on Earth Observations at the Third Observation Summit held in Brussels. More than 40 international organizations also support the emerging global network. The GEOSS project is designed to help all nations involved to produce and manage their information in a way that benefits the environment as well as humanity by taking a pulse of the planet.

On April 6, 2005, the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy Released the Final Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System. The Plan addresses nine societal benefit areas:

Improve Weather Forecasting
Reduce Loss of Life and Property from Disasters
Protect and Monitor Our Ocean Resources
Understand, Assess, Predict, Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Variability and Change
Support Sustainable Agriculture and Combat Land Degradation
Understand the Effect of Environmental Factors on Human Health and Well-Being
Develop the Capacity to Make Ecological Forecasts
Protect and Monitor Water Resources
Monitor and Manage Energy Resources

On May 9-10, 2005, the U.S. Group on Earth Observations convened the "Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS) Public Engagement Workshop: Continuing the Dialogue". IEOS is the U.S. contribution to GEOSS. Workshop presentations and follow-up on the findings of breakout groups are available at the external link shown below.

[edit] Potential

GEOSS is envisioned as a large national and international cooperative effort to bring together existing and new hardware (including Earth observation satellites) and software, making it all compatible in order to supply data and information at no cost. All subscribing nations have a unique role in developing and maintaining the system, collecting data, enhancing data distribution, and providing models to help all of the world's nations.

[edit] Participating Organisations

AARSE: African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment
ADIE: Association for the Development of Environmental Information
APN: Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research
CEOS: Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
ECMWF: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
EEA: European Environment Agency
ESA: European Space Agency
ESEAS: European Sea Level Service
EUMETNET: Network of European Meteorological Services/Composite Observing System
EUMETSAT: European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
EuroGeoSurveys: The Association of the Geological Surveys of the European Union
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FDSN: Federation of Digital Broad-Band Seismograph Networks
GCOS: Global Climate Observing System
GSDI: Global Spatial Data Infrastructure
GOOS: Global Ocean Observing System
GTOS: Global Terrestrial Observing System
IAG: International Association of Geodesy
ICSU: International Council for Science
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IGBP: International Geosphere-Biosphere Program
IGFA: International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research
IGOS-P: Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership
IISL: International Institute for Space Law
INCOSE: International Council on Systems Engineering
IO3C: International Ozone Commission
IOC: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
ISCGM: International Steering Committee for Global Mapping
ISDR: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
ISPRS: International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
OGC: Open Geospatial Consortium
POGO: Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean
SICA/CCAD: Central American Commission for the Environment and Development
SOPAC: South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission
UNCBD: United Nations Convention on Biodiversity
UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNOOSA: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
UNU-EHS: United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security
WCRP: World Climate Research Programme
WMO: World Meteorological Organization