GEO Work Plan Symposium 2012 ID-01 Advancing the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

Scope of Task ID-01 Support GEO in its objective 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 and advance the Declaration of the Group on Earth Observations Ministerial Summit in Beijing, China (5 November 2010), which committed to: (i)Maximize the number of documented datasets made available on the basis of full and open access; (ii)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 (iii)Develop flexible national and international policy frameworks to ensure that a more open data environment is implemented.

Expected Achievements by 2015 (1) 1.The implementation of the GEOSS Data-CORE, including user registration and data provider attribution capabilities; 2.Continued growth in the number of datasets made available on the basis of full and open access; 3.Expanded availability of detailed metadata (standardised descriptive information), to facilitate data and service discovery, assessment, access, and integration for decision support; 4.Recommendations for data documentation such as background information, logos and labels; 5.Promote wider use of open access licenses and waivers by data providers, enabling more efficient access and use for all GEOSS data; 6.Enable wider use of restricted access licenses by data providers, enabling more efficient access and use for all GEOSS data; 7.Guidelines and recommendations on national and international policy frameworks and coordinating mechanisms in support of a more open data environment across GEOSS;

Expected Achievements by 2015 (2) 8.Establishment of national coordinating mechanisms to promote and monitor engagement with the implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles, including processes within countries to identify and reduce institutional, legal and technical barriers to full and open exchange of data, metadata and products; 9.Additional guidelines and recommendations aimed at furthering the implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles, e.g., in the areas of defining terms, identifying best practices, and promoting consensus on data sharing approaches and implementation steps in different societal benefit areas; 10.Assessments of the use and impacts of resources made available with full and open access; 11.Development of metrics to assess the impact and progress of data sharing, including clear performance indicators and milestones towards progress.

Recent Progress and Key Outputs for 2012 (1) Formation of New Data Sharing Working Group –Co-Chairs: Alan Edwards (EC) Kevin Sweeney (New Zealand) Lerato Senoko (South Africa) Greg Withee (US) Robert Chen/Paul Uhlir (ICSU/CODATA) David Halpern (COSPAR) –Membership: 16 Members, 16 POs Bahamas, Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, EC, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, S. Africa, UK, US APSCO, CEOS, COSPAR, EEA, GSDI, ICSU, IEEE, IAG, IIASA, IISL, ISDE, ISCGM, IUGS, OGC, UNOOSA, WMO –Terms of Reference approved by ExCom in March 2012

Recent Progress and Key Outputs for 2012 (2) Formation of Three Subgroups –Data-CORE/GCI Leads: A. Edwards (EC), R. Chen (ICSU/CODATA) Objective: Address Data-CORE implementation issues –Legal Interoperability Leads: P. Uhlir (ICSU/CODATA), TBD Objective: Address data licensing and interoperability issues –Documentation and Data Quality Leads: G. Withee (US), D. Halpern (COSPAR) Objective: Develop recommendations on data documentation and data quality

Recent Progress and Key Outputs for 2012 (3) Key Outputs for 2012 –Lists of open access licenses and waivers, as well as restricted licenses, used within GEOSS and their key characteristics –Updated legal interoperability and legal liability white papers –Recommendations for comprehensive data documentation –Documentation in support of establishing national coordinating mechanisms and developing policy frameworks by GEO Members –Recommendations on metrics that could be implemented in GEOSS to assess the impact and progress of data sharing and to enable monitoring of the use and impact of resources made available with full and open access

Relationship to, or Support of, 2015 GEOSS Targets Target 1: Architecture –Support implementation of legal interoperability and data licensing Target 2: Data Management –Recommendations on data documentation and quality –Address liability issues Target 3: Capacity Building –Support national coordination mechanisms and policy frameworks –Educational materials on legal interoperability ( ) Target 4: Science & Technology –Inputs on digital rights management ( ) Target 5: User Engagement –User feedback on digital rights management and data documentation ( )

Suggestions for Assessing Progress against GEOSS Targets Open access licenses and waivers, as well as restricted licenses, registered in the GCI Assessments of the use and impacts of resources made available with full and open access and associated metrics

Issues (key impediments to progress) and Gaps Resources to ensure desirable levels of participation by developing country representatives in Working Group activities and desirable levels of outreach to developing country data users and providers

Linkages with other Tasks; Opportunities for Collaboration; Past and Expected Benefits of Collaboration within and across Tasks Need for coordination of data sharing approaches across tasks and particularly the Societal Benefit Areas Previous Data Sharing Task Force (DSTF) held several successful side events at past Plenaries and Ministerial Summits. The DSWG is considering organizing similar side events at future Plenaries and Summits.

Recommendations / Ideas for Accelerating Work Plan Implementation Support for Task subgroups with clear objectives and deliverables

Contributions to the GEOSS DataCORE Proposed Joint IIB + DSWG sub-group on Data Sharing Issues and the GCI –Initial focus on the implementation of the GEOSS Data-CORE in the GCI Open access licenses and waivers, as well as restricted licenses, used within GEOSS. Promotion of data contributions and associated documentation by GEO Members and Participating Organizations.