The GEO User Requirements Approach to Achieving Societal Benefits Gary J. Foley, USA Ellsworth LeDrew, IEEE Thierry Ranchin, France Francesco Pignatelli, JRC

Terms of Reference- GEO User Interface Committee Goal To engage users in the development and implementation of a sustained GEOSS that provides the data and information required within and among the nine societal benefit areas as specified by user groups on national, regional and global scales Also a specific goal to address cross-cutting issues and oversee the Communities of Practice (CPs), ensuring continuity & avoiding duplication.

UIC Objectives Enable GEO to address in a systematic, targeted, focused and comprehensive way the needs and concerns of a broad range of user communities in developing and developed countries, across issues and trans-disciplinary needs, with a particular focus on fostering new or less organized communities. Enable GEO, in the implementation of GEOSS, to engage a continuum of users, from producers to the final beneficiaries of the data and information Facilitate linkages and partnerships between established Communities of Practice (CoP) and new user groups or organizations interested in collaborating.

The GEOSS Architecture Users and Scientific Communities Served By GEOSS Common Approaches Systems within their Mandates UIC Goal Organize this side of the GEOSS Architecture

A user-led community of stakeholders, from providers to the final beneficiaries of Earth observation data and information, with a common interest in specific aspects of societal benefits to be realized by GEOSS implementation. The Communities of Practice will be self organized and will include stakeholders required to achieve benefits. Communities of Practice: What are They?

Communities of Practice Each CP will have slightly different objectives but of necessity there will be common objectives such as: To provide a forum for discussion and to identify, gather, and seek agreement on their particular user community requirements; To identify linkages and opportunities for collaborative strategic and technical projects. Coordinate the target delivery to enable the realization of societal benefits To advise the User Interface Committee, GEO Plenary and all other CPs on matters relating to their particular area of interest or societal benefit. Objectives:

Development of GEO Communities of Practice The Current GEO Communities of Practice –Air Quality and Health: May 5, Toronto –Energy: –Coastal ecosystems: IGOS-P –Forests –Geohazards –Water Cycle: IGOS-P –Water & Health –Biodiversity

An Example Community of Practice Air Quality & Health The Public

UIC & the GEO Workplan Tasks The main focus of the UIC to date is on Task US Other tasks are assigned to the UIC so that the Committee can draw from these tasks the following: –User communities to engage –User requirements identified in the conduct of the task –Involvement in Communities of Practice

GEO TASK US Establish a GEO process for identifying critical Earth observation priorities common to many GEOSS societal benefit areas, involving scientific and technical experts, taking account of socio-economic factors, and building on the results of existing systems’ requirements development processes.

UIC Meeting August, 2007 A Process for TASK US The User Requirements Gathering Processes Presentation by Dr. Lawrence Friedl User Needs and System Performance Utility (UNSPU) Proposed Functional Specifications Presentation by Dr. Hans-Peter Plag

The User Requirements Gathering Processes A 2-year timeline of US activities. How an “Advisory Group” and an “Analyst” will work together to develop the priorities within each SBA. The analyst will be the primary coordinator and organizer of the activity to meet the schedules, and will interact with and utilize the Advisory Group for each SBA. UIC’s Refined Process in nine steps. Explanation that the process “harvests” observation needs expressed in existing documents.

Progress since August 2007 Completion of Improving Management of Energy Resources, the Strategic 5-10 Year Plan by the GEO Energy CP, Oct. 12, 2007 Initiation of US work by analysts for –Energy SBA – lead IEEE –Biodiversity SBA – lead USEPA –Health SBA – lead USEPA

What’s Next Completion of the first round of user requirements gathering by August Next meetings of the UIC –Toronto, May, 2008 –TBD, September, 2008

Evolving Links to ADC  2 – 3 April, 2007, Scope of potential demonstration projects reviewed by George Percivall at UIC meeting, Geneva.  ADC/UIC co-sponsorship of Workshop in Yellowknife in association with Canadian IPY GeoNorth program entitled “ The Impact of Climate Change and Variability on Energy Development and Biodiversity in the Arctic”. Included Demonstration Projects.  “Kick the Tires” workshop on Air Quality as part of UIC Committee meeting (6-8 May, Toronto) held on May 5. Announcement forthcoming after details to be worked out this week.