The GEOSS Data Sharing Working Group:
Report to 27th Executive Committee Meeting
Alan Edwards
GEOSS Data Sharing Working Group Co-Chair
Geneva, Switzerland
19-20 March 2013
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
GEOSS Data Sharing Principles
The GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan states:
“The societal benefits of Earth observations cannot be
achieved without data sharing.”
And then sets out the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles:
There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata and
products shared within GEOSS, recognizing relevant
international instruments and national policies and legislation.
All shared data, metadata and products will be made available
with minimum time delay and at minimum cost.
All shared data, metadata and products being free of charge or
no more than cost of reproduction will be encouraged for
research and education.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Please note:
There is NO GEOSS Data Policy
The GEOSS Data Sharing Implementation Guidelines confirm:
“GEO welcomes all data contributions into the GEOSS.
When registering data in GEOSS, the contributor
should present any restrictions arising from relevant
international instruments and national policies and
legislation, and the duration of each restriction, that is
applicable to the exchange of the data, metadata, and
products submitted”.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Implementation Guidelines for
the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles (DSP)
Accepted by the GEO-VI Plenary, Washington D.C., Nov. 2009
• Promote the implementation of the principle of full and open exchange of
data according to GEOSS Data Sharing Principles (DSP).
• Enable GEOSS users to reuse and re-disseminate shared data, metadata
and products.
• Ensure consistency in the implementation of the GEOSS DSP with
relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation.
• Implement pricing policies consistent with GEOSS DSP.
• Reduce time delays for making data available through GEOSS.
• Promote research & education uses of GEOSS data, metadata and
products.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan
for the Implementation of the GEOSS DSP
• Builds upon the crucial concept of the full and open
exchange and on the Implementation Guidelines accepted
by Plenary
• Notes that the achievement of full and open exchange of,
and access to, key datasets requires actions by:
– GEO collectively
– Members and Participating Organizations individually
– GEOSS tasks and cross-cutting activities
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan
for the Implementation of the GEOSS DSP
Specifies 8 actions to be pursued by:
GEO
Collectively
Actions
1, 2, 3
and 4
GEO
Members
Actions
5 and 6
GEO
Members
and PO
Actions
7 and 8
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Proposed Data Sharing Action 1
• Create the GEOSS Data Collection of Open Resources
for Everyone (GEOSS Data-CORE) to address GEO
Societal Benefit Areas
• The GEOSS Data-CORE is a distributed pool of
documented datasets, contributed by the GEO
community on the basis of full, open and unrestricted
access and at no more than the cost of reproduction and
distribution
* It should be noted that data accessible in the GEOSS
Data-CORE is a subset of all data registered in the
GEOSS
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE
• It should be noted that the following conditions may be
placed on data registered in the GEOSS Data-CORE by
data providers, but are not required:
(i) Attribution;
(ii) User registration;
(iii) Marginal cost recovery is permitted,
(i.e., not greater than the cost of reproduction and distribution).
• These are not considered as representing restrictions on
the access to, or use and redistribution of, the data.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Proposed Data Sharing Action 2, 3 & 4
2. Establish a Task Force (Working Group) to:
– Monitor the use and impact of resources made available with
full and open access;
– Promote the efficacy of the Data Sharing Principles in
delivering societal benefits;
– Evaluate the outcomes of this Action Plan.
3. Maintain the GEOSS Common Infrastructure as the
architectural framework essential to implementing the
Data Sharing Principles
4. Integrate implementation of the Data Sharing
Principles, as appropriate, into the activities of GEO
Work Plan Tasks and GEO Committees
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Proposed Data Sharing Actions 5 and 6
5. Take leadership to establish national coordinating
mechanisms to promote and monitor engagement
with the implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing
Principles and provide feedback to GEO
6. Develop flexible policy frameworks to ensure that a
more open data environment is implemented
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Proposed Data Sharing Action 7 & 8
7. Maximize the number of documented datasets
made available on the basis of full and open
access
8. Promote with data providers within their territories
the benefits of full and open access to data
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The 2010 GEO Ministerial Declaration
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Commit(ed GEO Members) to:
maximize the number of documented datasets
made available on the basis of full & open access;
create the GEOSS Data Collection of Open
Resources for Everyone (GEOSS Data CORE), a
distributed pool of documented datasets with full,
open and unrestricted access at no more than the
cost of reproduction and distribution; and
develop flexible national and international policy
frameworks to ensure that a more open data
environment is implemented, thus putting into
practice actions for the implementation of the
GEOSS Data Sharing Principles;
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data Sharing Working Group
The DSWG supports GEO in its goals to put into practice
the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles, the Implementation
Guidelines for the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and the
GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan.
The DSWG has established 4 Subgroups:
1. GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup;
2. Legal Interoperability Subgroup;
3. Documentation and Data Quality Subgroup;
4. Capacity Building Subgroup
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Capacity Building Subgroup
• Provides support to GEO Members to enable them to
establish national coordinating mechanisms and develop
flexible policy frameworks;
• Promotes with data providers the benefits of full and open
access to data, which will also help to maximise the
number of documented datasets made available on the
basis of full and open access.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Capacity Building Subgroup
• The overall strategy is to identify lessons learned and best
practices based on the experiences of GEO Members who
have already established national coordinating
mechanisms or developed flexible policy frameworks.
• This will form the basis for documentation that can help
GEO Members that would like to establish their own
national coordinating mechanism or work to develop
flexible policy frameworks.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Capacity Building Subgroup
• The Subgroup will also address the need for a strategy to
inform nations regarding the benefits of data sharing
and ways to improve national capacity through data
sharing.
• In support of this objective, the DSWG hosted a side-event
at the GEO-IX Plenary in Brazil that focused on positive
data sharing experiences.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Documentation and Data Quality Subgroup
• Promotes comprehensive documentation on data quality,
including accuracy, stability, precision, spatial and temporal
sampling characteristics, error characteristics, timeliness,
completeness, reproducibility, calibration, accessibility,
stability traceable to international standards, and
reprocessing.
• The work of this Subgroup complements that being carried
out within the Infrastructure Tasks.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Documentation and Data Quality Subgroup
• Work on data documentation and quality is gathering
momentum, with a draft recommendation having been
formulated on guidelines for the documentation of data
quality.
• Comments on these draft guidelines are most welcome.
• The SG is also exploring recommendations on user
feedback, including determining what is needed and
reviewing existing user feedback for improved data
documentation on accuracy, stability, precision, and spatial
and temporal sampling characteristics.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Legal Interoperability* Subgroup
• Reviews and updates the legal interoperability summary
white paper and background papers;
• Compiles a list of open access licenses and waivers, as
well as restricted licenses, used within GEOSS and their
key characteristics.
[This will be submitted to the GEO-X Plenary, and updated before each
subsequent GEO Plenary.]
* Legal interoperability for data means that the legal rights, terms, and
conditions of databases from two or more sources are compatible and the
data may be combined by any user without compromising the legal rights
of any of the data sources used.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The Legal Interoperability* Subgroup
• Plans to develop educational and training materials on open
access licenses and waivers for data providers and users;
• Is reviewing user feedback received related to the
implementation of open access licenses and waivers and
associated digital rights management technologies;
• Is leading DSWG efforts to develop recommendations and
feedback relevant to science and technology activities.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Looks to:
• Expand the availability of detailed metadata to facilitate
data and service discovery, assessment, access, and
integration for decision support;
• Promote the continued growth in the number of datasets
made available on the basis of full and open access;
• Assist in the implementation of the GEOSS Data-CORE.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Call for GEOSS Data-CORE resources
•
On behalf of the DSWG, in October 2012 the Commission started contacting
GEO Members and Participant Organisations who had pledged resources to
the GEOSS Data-CORE to make their open resources visible and available
as such.
•
We have been also asking potential contributors to the GEOSS Data-CORE
(ECDS, PANGAEA, SERVIR, etc.).
•
After a first call for data with a moderate response, in the wake of the GEO
Plenary (December 2012) we sent reminders to those who had not
responded.
•
The second call was more successful, with actions being taken by
contributors like UKGEO or PANGAEA and commitments made by SERVIR,
ITC or INTERACT Project.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
GEOSS-DataCORE original pledges (I)
Institutions & projects
INPE
ICARE
ETHER
CNES
CLS
IFREMER
IRD
LEGOS
ACRI
GEO Member/
PO
Brazil
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
RESIF Consortium
Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) (= Nat. Met. Service of Germany)
France
Germany
Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) at the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG)
DLR/WDC-RSAT
ISPRA
JAXA
Germany
Germany
Italy
Japan
Flagged as DataCORE
Some resources flagged as DataCORE
Not flagged as DataCORE
Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative, the University of Tokyo Japan
Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET)
Spain
KNMI
The Netherlands
University of Twente - Faculty of GeoInformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC)
The Netherlands
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
GEOSS-DataCORE original pledges (II)
Institutions and projects
GEO Member/ PO
SeaDataNet
The Netherlands
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
UK
Centre for Polar Observation & Modelling
UK
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
UK
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Rivers Agency
UK
Department of the Environment Northern Ireland
UK
Marine Scotland
UK
Some resources flagged as DataCORE
Forestry Commission
UK
Not flagged as DataCORE
National Biodiversity Network
UK
NERC British Antarctic Survey
UK
NERC British Geological Survey
UK
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
UK
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK
Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory
UK
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
UK
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
UK
Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science
UK
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
UK
Environment Agency
UK
CDIAC (Department of Energy)
US
Flagged as DataCORE
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
GEOSS-DataCORE original pledges (III)
Institutions and projects
GEO Member/ PO
AirNow (EPA)
US
Standard Earth Science Products (NASA)
US
NOAA datasets
US
Foreign Agriculture Serve Crop Explorer Interface (DoA)
US
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)
US
Landsat Global Land Survey (USGS)
US
Some resources flagged as DataCORE
GCMD (USGEO)
US
Not flagged as DataCORE
Datasets from atmospheric reanalyses, Datasets on atmospheric composition
developed by pilot projects for the GMES Atmosphere Service
ECMWF
Several datasets
EEA
GMES Sentinel missions, Envisat, Earth Explorer, ERS
ESA
Different Meteosat, SAF and Metop products
Eumetsat
GBIF Data
GBIF
IAG
IAG
ISCGM
ISCGM
World Data System
ICSU
Flagged as DataCORE
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Contacting GEOSS-DataCORE providers – 1st stage (I)
GEO Member/PO
Organizations and Projects Contacted
PO/Japan
EEA
DIAS (Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative,
the University of Tokyo)
ISPRA
Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)
JAXA (ALOS, PALSAR)
Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET)
DLR/WDC-RSAT (Polyphemus)
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety
ISCGM (The Global Map)
EEA
Brazil
Japan
Italy
Germany
Japan
Spain
Germany
Germany
Contacted?
When?
Response?
When (1st
Time)?
8/10/2012
8/10/2012
8/10/2012
9/10/2012
9/10/2012
10/10/2012
8/10/2012
10/10/2012
11/10/2012
11/10/2012
6/11/2012
INPE (DevCoCast & Earth Observation Images Catalog)
11/10/2012
14/10/2012
The Netherlands
University of Twente - Faculty of GeoInformation Science and Earth
Observation (ITC)
12/10/2012
France
CTOH (LEGOS)
15/10/2012
ESA
ESA (GMES Sentinel Missions, Envisat, ERS, Earth Explorer Missions)
15/10/2012
15/10/2012
OneGeology-Europe
15/10/2012
18/10/2012
World Data System
Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) at the Federal Institute of Hydrology
(BfG)
15/10/2012
19/10/2012
OneGeologyEurope
ICSU
Germany
15/10/2012
Are flagging or will flag shortly resources as DataCORE
Expect to flag but not now
Procedure to flag data is under review
No response or no decision yet
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Contacting GEOSS-DataCORE providers – 1st stage (II)
GEO Member/PO Organizations and Projects Contacted
Eumetsat
UK
France
France
France
France
France / Europe
ECMWF
Contacted?
When?
Eumetsat
UKGEO
ICARE (CNES, INSU, Univ Lille, Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais)
ETHER (CNES, INSU)
SPIRIT, KALIDEOS (CNES, SPOT Image)
AVISO (CNES, CLS)
HERMES (ACRI, ESA)
ECMWF
Global Seismographic Network - Incorporated Research Institutions for
Seismology (IRIS)
SMOS (IFREMER, CNES)
IAG (IRD)
IFREMER (CERSAT)
RESIF Consortium
ECDS (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute)
INTERACT: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (INTERACT
Coordinator)
PANGAEA: Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
(AWI) and Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM) from
the University of Bremen
15/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
16/10/2012
Germany
Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde; UniBonn (GEOWOW FP7 Project)
11/12/2012
The Netherlands
SeaDataNet
13/12/2012
US
France
France, IAG
France / Europe
France
Sweden
Germany
Response? When
(1st Time)?
13/12/2012
17/10/2012
17/10/2012
17/10/2012
17/10/2012
17/10/2012
24/10/2012
29/10/2012
29/10/2012
9/11/2012
13/12/2012
Are flagging or will flag shortly resources as DataCORE
Expect to flag but not now
Procedure to flag data is under review
No response or no decision yet
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Contacting GEOSS-DataCORE providers – 2nd stage (I)
GEO Member/PO Organizations and Projects Contacted
When?
Response?
When (1st
Time)?
Japan
DIAS (Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative,
the University of Tokyo)
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
Japan
Germany
JAXA (ALOS, PALSAR)
DLR/WDC-RSAT (Polyphemus)
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
14/12/2012
Germany
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
12/12/2012
PO/Japan
ISCGM (The Global Map)
12/12/2012
Brazil
INPE (DevCoCast & Earth Observation Images Catalog)
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
23/01/2013
OneGeologyEurope
OneGeology-Europe
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
The Netherlands
University of Twente - Faculty of GeoInformation Science and Earth
Observation (ITC)
13/12/2012
14/12/2012
17/12/2012
ESA
ESA (GMES Sentinel Missions, Envisat, ERS, Earth Explorer Missions)
13/12/2012
14/12/2012
UK
UKGEO
13/12/2012
13/12/2012
23/01/2013
Are flagging or will flag shortly resources as DataCORE
Expect to flag but not now
Procedure to flag data is under review
No response or no decision yet
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Contacting GEOSS-DataCORE providers – 2nd stage (II)
GEO Member/PO Organizations and Projects Contacted
When?
Response?
When (1st
Time)?
ECMWF
ECMWF
13/12/2012
South Africa
SAEON Data
13/12/2012
-
INTERACT: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (INTERACT
Coordinator)
17/12/2012
18/12/2012
Germany
PANGAEA: Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)
and Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM) from the
University of Bremen
17/12/2012
8/01/2013
Spain
National Geographic Reference Equipment (IGN-CNIG)
17/12/2012
17/12/2012
France
SPIRIT, KALIDEOS (CNES, SPOT Image)
17/12/2012
China
Finer Resolution Observation and Monitoring - Global Land Cover
21/01/2013
US
US
SERVIR
Landsat Global Land Survey
25/01/2013
26/02/2013
25/01/2013
Are flagging or will flag shortly resources as DataCORE
Expect to flag but not now
Won't flag neither in the short nor in the mid term
No response or no decision yet
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Lessons learnt (so far)
•
Most of the entities contacted responded positively to our call.
•
Nevertheless, most of them have just reconfirmed their pledges and actions
still need to be taken.
•
Those who are already taking some action appear not to completely
understand what they actually have to do.
We need simple step-by-step guidelines.
•
We cannot forget that GEOSS is built on a voluntary basis so we need to
respond quickly at the questions and doubts raised by those who are willing to
participate. Providers want a named Point-of-Contact they can interact with
directly.
•
Following up the contributions to the GEOSS Data-CORE and to the GEOSS in
general has to be, therefore, a continuous effort. We need to look at how the
GEO Secretariat can provide dedicated support for this work.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
Future Plans
•
Follow-up the commitments by those already contacted, supporting them in
registering and flagging their resources in the GEOSS.
•
Ask for further potential contributors to the GEOSS Data-CORE, especially to
the Sprint To Ministerial demonstrators.
•
Ensure the real access to the GEOSS Data-CORE data, by checking the links
provided in the metadata are available through the GEO Portal.
•
Launch a second reminder to those who still have not responded.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE and GCI Subgroup
GEOSS Data-CORE Timeline
EEA GEOSS Data-CORE
catalogue
GEO VII Beijing Ministerial:
Creation of GEOSS DataCORE
ISPRA datasets
INPE Image
Catalog
2013
2011
2010
2012
Sprint to 2011 Plenary:
GCMD in the GEOSS DataCORE
October 2012:
EC starts following up the
GEOSS Data-CORE
PANGAEA
EXCOM27:
> 600000 GEOSS
DataCORE resources
GEO-IX:
> 14000 GEOSS DataCORE resources
There are now over 600,000 GEOSS Data-CORE
resources available in the GEOSS – and rising!
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS Data-CORE: Metadata Issues
• To easily identify and access Data-CORE resources it is
necessary for data providers to add, in addition to the
geossDataCore tag, a link to the data resource or to a
service enabling the view/download of the resource, and to
make sure that this link is stable and is really working.
• Considerable work is required to liaise with data providers
to make them aware of the critical importance of this task.
• A continuous effort also has to be made in order to keep
the metadata updated.
• And there are also many other issues …….
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS DSWG and IIB therefore proposes that:
• The GEO Secretariat should be the main Point-ofContact for entities looking to contribute resources to
the GEOSS and in particular the GEOSS Data-CORE
and issues associated with the quality and the
correctness of the metadata accompanying the
registered resources.
• The GEO Executive Committee should instruct the
Director of the GEO Secretariat to recruit an IT/Data
Management specialist to help with the development of
the GEOSS Data-CORE and the associated metadata.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
The GEOSS DSWG and IIB Proposal
• Ensuring that the GEOSS Data-CORE is a success is
critical to the overall success of the GEOSS.
• The implementation of the GEOSS Data-CORE will have a
major impact on users, including those in Developing
Countries.
• The discovery of and access to GEOSS Data-CORE
resources truly distinguishes the GEOSS from other the
capabilities of other initiatives such as Google.
• Hence the recruitment of such a specialist is not simply a
matter of addressing technical issues, but also one of
raising the visibility of the GEOSS and communicating its
impact to the GEO Community and beyond.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Data Sharing in GEO Post-2015
The DSWG has begun discussions on possible data sharing
strategies to be taken into consideration post-2015.
Topics and/or issues include, (but are not limited to):
• Should the Data Sharing Principles be updated;
• What should be the responsibility and role of the GEO
Secretariat in supporting the implementation of the GEOSS
Data-CORE, the GCI and the Data Sharing Action Plan;
• How can we improve the inclusion of commercial databases
in the GEOSS;
• What are the implication of new Earth Observation concepts
and technologies, such as Citizens' Observatories, for the
GEOSS and data sharing.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Data Sharing in GEO Post-2015:
Updating the Data Sharing Principles
Could the DSPs become a single Data Sharing Principle?
That the societal benefits of Earth observations can only
be achieved by:
Full (FREE?), Open and Unrestricted
Discovery and Access
and INTEROPERABLE
Use, Re-use and Re-dissemination of
Documented Metadata, Data and Products
of Known Quality
with Minimal Time Delay
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Data Sharing in GEO Post-2015:
Evolving the GEOSS Architecture
Accepting that society naturally organises itself to
work within a "community framework",
as communities recognise that they can derive much
greater value if their individual efforts can be brought
together within a "Community Framework",
could the GEOSS architecture evolve from a
"System of Systems" approach,
to a "Community of Communities" philosophy.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
DS Post-2015: Evolving the GEOSS Architecture
A "Community of Communities" GEOSS
CEOS R/S
Community
Community A
Com.
Portal
ESA, NASA,
NOA, JAXA, etc.
Cit. Obs
Domain Service Bus
R/s
In situ
Archives
Quality &
Tagging
Community X
Composition
...
Community B
Access
Com.
Portal
Semantic
Cit. Obs
Domain Service Bus
R/s
Discovery
In situ
Archives
Brokering
Infrastructure
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Data Sharing in GEO Post-2015:
Evolving the GEOSS Architecture
A "Community of Communities" GEOSS
Such a Framework:
• builds on existing capacities, enhancing communities,
respecting their mandates, but not supplanting them;
• offers a high level of flexibility;
• is open to new innovations as technology evolves,
(so we can benefit from the next revolution!);
• provides the potential for interoperability with
cultural, social and economic information that will
ultimately play an important role in decision making.
But the societal benefits of such a Framework
can only be achieved with the sharing of data.”
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Summary
GEO is working very actively:
• to promote the benefits of full and open access to data;
• To maximize the number of documented datasets made
available on the basis of full and open access;
• Expand the availability of detailed metadata;
• Promote comprehensive documentation on data quality;
• Compile lists of appropriate licenses and waivers;
• Provide support to develop flexible policy frameworks.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013
Summary
• The DSWG encourages all GEO Members and PO to make
all resources currently pledged to the GEOSS Data-CORE
visible in the GEOSS and to pledge further contributions.
• The DSWG, supported by the IIB, asks EXCOM to instruct
the GEO Secretariat Director to recruit an IT/Data
Management specialist to help with the development of the
GEOSS Data-CORE and the GCI.
• EXCOM is also asked to identify a senior person from
amongst its Co-chairs (or Members) and designate that
individual as a Co-chair of the DSWG, to facilitate continued
communication between the two groups on the key topic of
data sharing.
DSWG Report to EXCOM-27, 19/03/2013