NAS Board on Research Data and Information (BRDI)

30 November 2010

Gregory W. Withee

Co-Chair, USGEO International Working GroupDirector, International Programs, DOI/USGS 1

2010 Beijing Earth Observation 2010 Beijing Earth Observation Ministerial Summit Ministerial Summit

and Group on Earth Observations and Group on Earth Observations Seventh Plenary (GEO-VII)Seventh Plenary (GEO-VII)

Outcome SummaryOutcome Summary

Presentation Topics

• Background of GEO and USGEO

• Ministerial Summit and GEO VII

– Participation

– Outcomes

– Side meetings/Announcements

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What is GEO?• The intergovernmental Group on

Earth Observations (GEO) is a voluntary partnership of 80 Member governments and the European Commission, working with 58 Participating Organizations

• GEO is coordinating efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, or GEOSS

• A forum to develop new projects, coordinate strategies and investments

What is GEOSS?• A distributed system of systems

– Improves coordination of strategies & observation systems

– Links all platforms: in situ, aircraft, & satellite networks

– Identifies gaps in our global capacity

– Facilitates exchange of data & information

– Improves decision-makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues

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A Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

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in the U.S. Federal Structure

National Science and Technology Council

25 Federal agencies and agency components

Committee on

Environment and Natural Resources

The White House/Executive Office of the President

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USGEO Interagency Coordination

Strategic Assessment

USGEO has expanded existing evaluation and assessment methodologies to better understand the costs and benefits of closing identified gaps in Earth observing capabilities and to prioritize future investment opportunities based on this framework.

This strategic assessment will further develop the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS), which harmonizes Federal government investments in Earth observations and comprises the U.S. National contribution to GEOSS.

Address continuity of current measurements as well as the need for new measurements

Focus near-term decision-making at the highest levels of government

Maximize Federal investment in Earth observations

Provide an integrated picture of national Earth observations priorities

Assessment Goals

Consider measurements from all types of platforms: space-based, airborne, subterranean, land and sea-based

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U.S. Supports GEO and GEOSS

SERVIR

GEONETCast

North American Drought Monitor

AIRNow—International

….Contributing to many tasks in the GEO 2009-11 Work Plan:

GEO 2010 Ministerial Task Force

GEO Data Sharing Task Force

Host of GEO-VI Plenary in Nov 2009

Earth Observation Beijing Ministerial Summit and Plenary

“Observe Share Inform”• Minister invitations from S&T Minister China

– 85 GEO Countries plus EC and 61 Participating Organizations

• 54 delegations and 448 individuals attended (record)

• Summit: November 5, 2010

• GEO Plenary: Nov 3,4 and GEO Executive Committee Nov 2

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2010 GEO Ministerial SummitBeijing – Objectives

• Assessing progress on the GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan (2010-2015)

• Supporting the continuation of an operational GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI)

• Endorsing actions in support of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

• Declaring role for GEO in Carbon observing system

• Laying the framework for the implementation of

the GEOSS in the period 2010-2015 (and beyond).9

U.S. Delegation

• Sherburne Abbott - OSTP, US cochair of GEO• David Hayes – co lead of the US Delegation

and Deputy Secretary DOI• Dr. Marcia McNutt - Director, USGS, DOI• Lawrence Robinson – Assistant Secretary

DOC• Dr. Steven Koonin – Undersecretary DOE• Representatives from NASA, NOAA, USGS,

USDA, EPA, NIH, NSF, Smithsonian

Summit Outcomes

• Beijing Declaration – Declared support to full and open data

sharing and established GEOSS Data CORE– Specifically highlighted some priority

projects, including forest carbon, GEOBON, and Global Land Cover Initiative

– Resolved to review recommendations for future role of GEO beyond 2015

• US announced two initiatives: SilvaCarbon, and Global Land Cover

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GEO Plenary VII Outcomes• 5 new members recognized; 3 new

participating organizations accepted

• GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan accepted with minor adjustments – Data Sharing Task Force extended 1 year

• Forest Carbon Tracking and Global Forest Observation Initiative accepted

• Unveiling of Critical Earth Observation Priorities (document available)

• GEO VII Turkey and GEO IX Brazil 12

Notable side meetings/announcements

• GEO Ministerial Summit Press Briefing

• Symposium on Data Sharing

• USGS signing ceremony with CEODE

• Announcement:– Global Land-Cover Data Initiative – 30 m

land cover data sets– Announcement of US initiative called

SilvaCarbon13

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THANK YOU

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