Slide: 1 37 th WGISS meeting| Cocoa beach | 14 April 2014 WGISS EXEC Future of WGISS

Future of WGISS 14 April, SWOT Analysis WGISS benefits How to improve WGISS Summary

Future of WGISS 14 April, Internal factors External factors Positive aspects Negative aspects Human network & technical skill of WGISS If I have a technical problem to solve, I can ask Technologies Exploration forum International cooperation : large number of agencies Technical exchange Sharing the load of the studies, and development Independent from industry Allow not to re-invent the wheel CEOS = worlds' largest collection of EO data, An important component of GEO data Answer to CEOS plenary expectations Recognized as space arm of GEO Kind of standardization body General need of IT expertise and guidance in the field of EO For EO applications Best practices documents Improve the data access Improve efficiencies Do more with less Agencies budget getting smaller ROI can be seen as not sufficient Organization is unclear Link with SEO actions Link with SIT/plenary No dedicated means – solely best effort Nevertheless, WGISS participants presence in meeting is already an effort Is it WGISS role ? No concrete output Not visible enough Not enough metrics Finding and accessing desirable EO data remains laborious Not possible to build sustained system IDN and CWIC are exceptions SWOT Analysis

Future of WGISS 14 April, 2014 Positive aspects Negative aspects SWOT Analysis Internal factors External factors Positive aspects Negative aspects SWOT analysis can be used to identify possible strategic approaches. Although originally designed for planning, this tool is used in evaluation to ensure that the implemented strategy is appropriate to the situation described in the analysis Strengths are positive internal factors that are controlled by the organization, and which provide foundations for the future. Weaknesses are negative internal elements, which are controlled by the organization, and for which key improvements can be made. Opportunities are the external positive possibilities which can be taken advantage of in the context of contemporary strengths and weaknesses. They are often beyond the influence of the organization, or at the margins. Threats are difficulties, impediments, or external limitations which can prevent or impede the development of the organization.

Slide: 5 37 th WGISS meeting| Cocoa beach | 14 April 2014 WGISS EXEC WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS CEOS organization CEOS Mission Statement CEOS’s primary objective CEOS priority WGISS WGISS summary WGISS assets and attractions WGISS benefits Improving utilization of EO data Emerging technologies Common/shared developments International cooperation Summary – WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS Organization (1/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan 54 CEOS agencies - 31 Members - 24 associates

Future of WGISS 14 April, Working Groups address calibration/validation, data portals, capacity building, disaster management, climate, and common data processing standards shared across a wide range of Earth observation domains. WGCV : Calibration and Validation WGCapD : Capacity Building and Data Democracy WGClimate WGDisasters WGISS : Information Systems and Services CEOS Organization (1/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, Virtual Constellations (VCs) are made up of space-based, ground-based, and/or data delivery systems that are coordinated to meet a common set of requirements within a specific domain. While maintaining the independence of individual Agency contributions., VCs make use of collaborative partnerships to: address observational gaps, sustain the routine collection of critical observations, and minimize duplication/overlaps, AC-VC : Atmospheric Composition LSI VC : Land Surface Composition OCR-VC : Ocean Color Radiometry OST-VC : Ocean Surface Topography OSVW-VC : Ocean Surface Vector Wind P-VC : Precipitation SST-VC : Sea Surface Temperature CEOS Organization (1/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS ensures international coordination of civil space-based Earth observation programs and promotes exchange of data to optimize societal benefit and inform decision making for securing a prosperous and sustainable future for humankind. CEOS mission statement Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, To optimize the benefits of space-based Earth observation through cooperation of CEOS Agencies in mission planning and in the development of compatible data products, formats, services, applications and policies To aid both CEOS Agencies and the international user community by, among other things, serving as the focal point for international coordination of space-based Earth observation activities, including the Group on Earth Observations and entities related to global change CEOS primary objectives 1/2 Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, To exchange policy and technical information to encourage complementarity and compatibility among space-based Earth observation systems currently in service or development, and the data received from them, as well as address issues of common interest across the spectrum of Earth observation satellite missions CEOS primary objectives (2/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS Agencies will continue to enhance their cooperation to respond effectively to Earth observation users’ needs by achieving integration across the full range of Earth observations, by closing important observational gaps, and by promoting the sharing of CEOS Agency data, and improving access to and use of such data. CEOS will support more effective societal decision making in the areas of climate monitoring and research; carbon observations, including observations to support the effective monitoring and management of the world’s forested regions; food security; disaster risk management; biodiversity; capacity building; and data availability and access. CEOS priorities (1/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS Working Groups and Virtual Constellations will expand their technical and scientific coordination to support these priorities, and improve the overall level of complementarity and compatibility of their Earth observation and data management systems for societal benefit. CEOS will consider other requests from external stakeholders and determine what, if any, support is possible and appropriate. CEOS will also continue its outreach and communications efforts. As it executes these activities, CEOS will operate in accordance with the guidance provided in the CEOS Governance and Processes document regarding the organization’s structure, processes, and stakeholder relations. CEOS priorities (2/2) Extracts from CEOS 3Y Workplan

Future of WGISS 14 April, Working Group on Information Systems and Services WGISS

Future of WGISS 14 April, subsidiary body supporting the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS). promotes collaboration in the development of systems and services that manage and supply these observatory data. creates and demonstrates prototypes supporting CEOS and Group on Earth Observation (GEO) requirements. WGISS summary (1/2)

Future of WGISS 14 April, also addresses the internal management of EO data, the creation of information systems and the delivery of interoperable services. The activities and expertise of WGISS span the full range of the information life cycle from the requirements and metadata definition for the initial ingestion of satellite data into archives through to the incorporation of derived information into end-user applications. WGISS summary (2/2)

Future of WGISS 14 April, CEOS agencies… represent the largest repository of EO data and have major resources to support the acquisition, archive, and distribution of the EO data. have made major investments in the data systems that provide search and access to the EO data to broader communities of science and application users share the CEOS goal of data democracy by improving access and responding to user needs WGISS assets and attractions WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, WGISS supports CEOS partners in… offering their data for search and access to users around the world developing user tools to search and access data from many CEOS agencies using one common mechanism offering their users the reuse of tools to search and access data from many CEOS agencies WGISS assets and attractions WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, Improvements to EO data utilization and access yield… societal impacts benefits to science benefits for private sector A federation approach to search and access of EO data… eases the work of users enables sharing of tools for development and utilization produces compatible services and applications promotes search and access methods alignment => we can all benefit from the investments of other agencies => less funding, easier and faster Improving utilization of EO data(1/2) WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, Agencies make major investments, but need concrete benefits to justify for future missions. WGISS activities are connected with and complementary to the work of the Virtual Constellations WGISS is serving GEOSS for data access and discovery WGISS members can take back to their agencies ideas, pieces of software for data utilization that they can re-use without re- inventing the wheel With IDN, ~15000 datasets are discoverable, and with CEOS Opensearch ~2000 datasets and ~70 millions granules from worldwide agencies are discoverable and accessible Improving utilization of EO data(2/2) WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, Information Technology is evolving fast and is not driven by Space applications Share information about emerging technologies that can be used in EO data systems Cloud computing Big data … Agencies can pick up the latest technology trend, hints for our future systems and find possible collaborations (with other agencies) Lead for better decision making Learning what other agencies are doing Sharing experience and expertise Emerging technologies WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, WGISS develops white papers, best practices and lessons- learned documents CEOS opensearch best practice CEOS Interoperability Handbook Long Term Data Preservation guidelines … WGISS develop systems that can be operational IDN for data discovery CWIC / FedEO for search and data access Recovery Observatory for post disasters management Common developments WGISS benefits

Future of WGISS 14 April, Coordination and alignment of CEOS agencies data systems can only benefit user communities Align search and access methods Benefit from data systems investments from other CEOS agencies Share information about common standards, best practices, guidelines, and software tools Agencies can work together under the CEOS umbrella without having to have formal bi-lateral agreements. WGISS can also support bi-lateral interactions, by discussing the best practices and guidelines in a multilateral forum For example, an agency comes to WGISS and sees CWIC activity, or gets ideas from presentations at WGISS meetings, and bilateral agreements can develop. International Cooperation WGISS benefits

Slide: th WGISS meeting| Cocoa beach | 14 April 2014 WGISS EXEC How to improve WGISS

Future of WGISS 14 April, How to improve WGISS Participation to WGISS WGISS success criteria Outreach Tangible effort Do more what we do best Summary of “How to improve WGISS”

Future of WGISS 14 April, What it means to participate in WGISS. CEOS agencies state that they cannot afford to participate in multiple WGs or VCs; lowering the perceived hurdle could attract more members. Historically WGISS has been able to attract members of CEOS that do not actively attend CEOS Plenary meetings. Participation to WGISS Clarify what it means to participate to WGISS : - can use gotomeeting, - can participate to IG and WG. - Not obliged to be implicated to all project and to all meetings. This information can be put in the Web site, and during presentation to SIT and to Plenary. Increase interaction with VCs. CNES SIT team initiatives is a good thing and very appropriate

Future of WGISS 14 April, WGISS Success Criteria. This will let us know when we are making a true impact and it will validate our relevance. WGISS shall be recognized as the reference (at least within CEOS) for ground segment IT subjects WGISS success criteria WGISS benefits could be an answer. WGISS should coordinate/collaborate/connect more closely with SEO. - Ground system development - outreach Agencies want to improve the usage of their data and the number of users. The success criteria may change and should evolve. We are trying to help ; not trying to compete. Work of a community

Future of WGISS 14 April, WGISS Success Criteria. This will let us know when we are making a true impact and it will validate our relevance. WGISS shall be recognized as the reference (at least within CEOS) for ground segment IT subjects WGISS success criteria Characterize users, and which work will interest which users. - eg., Decision Makers, Agency Data System, science end-users. - some are interested in users, other on systems or data Application side meeting : there was plenty of thing WGISS is doing that they were not aware. Suggestion : organize side meeting at SIT or Plenary that may be relevant - technology exploration - interoperability - data preservation

Future of WGISS 14 April, Improve outreach to all of CEOS (including VCs, WGs and ad Hoc teams). We need to increase the visibility of WGISS at the CEOS Plenary/SIT level. Many non-WGISS members of CEOS are trying to tackle the same issues that we are addressing in WGISS. Outreach Synthesis of WGISS activities (SIT & Plenary) with outreach in mind. Not too technical and appealing Application side meeting : there was plenty of thing WGISS is doing that they were not aware. Suggestion : organize side meeting at SIT or Plenary that may be relevant - technology exploration - interoperability - data preservation Improve WGISS portal

Future of WGISS 14 April, Better communicate the value of coordinating and improving data systems and services. I think we could do more raise awareness to the CEOS member agency leaders regarding the importance of data utilization and the need to overcome barriers to use through interoperability to improve access, in part through the use of open source components. Can we better communicate the benefits of interoperability — streamline processes, reduce manual efforts, reduce error, deliver services more effectively, save time, save money. Outreach Argument for usefulness of interoperability. Careful : WGISS is not limited to interoperability Share opensource code. Save money to any agency ; more for smaller agencies : allow any organization [WGs (eg CapD), VCs, agencies] to re-use for their own need GET A STATEMENT with the benefits of interoperability

Future of WGISS 14 April, Work with users and contribute to develop user-request-oriented system/data. 2. Continuous discussion / brainstorming / information exchange (such as DSIG and TechEXPO session) are also very important activities. These are basis on our activities. Tangible effort 1/ WG-Disaster would be good starting point. Set-up a repository of available software / systems 2/ Try to do a synthesis : will feed the SIT meetings and Plenary outreach

Future of WGISS 14 April, Have a strong focus on CEOS agency related issues and not just interoperability of the systems. The Technology Exploration sub group has made it apparent that many agencies are struggling trying to solve the same problems. (Some of these problems are being forced from their upper level management). For example, it may not be an agency’s #1 priority to be interoperable with another agency but that agency could have best practices for implementing cloud computing that could benefit others in WGISS. Tangible effort

Future of WGISS 14 April, Do more of what we do best. For example producing Best Practices and Lessons Learned documentation and sharing architectures/software etc. Do more what we do best Yes ! Interoperability handbook