1. An Integrated A&D Strategy Jay Pearlman, A Annoni I DeLoatch, B Ryan Briefing to ADC Meeting March 1 2011

2. Background Two Strategic Targets have been developed for the Architecture and Data components of GEOSS. At the midpoint of GEOSS 10-year plan, an M&E review indicated there were challenges in both the processes and implementation of the GEOSS architecture. “Stakeholders perceive that architecture developed by GEO does not yet meet their needs for data, information, and tools.” An integrated approach addressing both Architecture and Data targets and the milestones toward meeting these targets is essential for achieving the objectives of the ten-year implementation plan.

3. Objectives Analyze issues, milestones, objectives and recommendations coming from Architecture, Data Management, and Management strategies discussion and address the path forward to integrate these into a coordinating framework for GEO. Develop an Action Plan document, determine if there are gaps and address these as necessary.

4. Questions 1.Given that Architecture and the Data strategy address their relevant Strategic Targets, what gaps remain when they are integrated together? Which issues are across strategy targets (e.g. data access services required for data management required of the GEOSS architecture)? 2.How are priorities set between the different areas? 3.What are the key approaches for an integrated management plan? 4. How is the plan described to high-level managers? 5.Does the plan allow for flexibility as the state of the art advances? 6.How are user inputs and feedback folded into the plan? 7.Is the integrated plan likely to be supported by the broad user communities? 8.From an operational perspective, who has responsibilities for GEOSS implementation plan? For the A&D action plan? 9.New Tools are available for GEO work plan management and for Strategic Target management. Are these tools adequate? Is there a room for improvement? 10.Is the structure and content of the GEO work plan appropriate? If not which changes should be proposed?

5. Desired Outcomes Preliminary lists of Milestones and Deliverables (until 2015) Preliminary agreement on strategy for an integrated architecture and data action plan for meeting the A&D strategic targets Consensus on processes and steps for integrated management. Identification of relevant gaps and recommendations for addressing these. Proposed changes to the GEO work plan Steps for improved uses of the A&D and interfaces with users Recommendations for improved interfaces with other GEO committees and with task leads

6. Challenges For Strategy 1.Demonstrate value (across communities) - by examples 2.Propose GEOSS as a process rather than an information system 1.Expand interoperability through international specifications, standards and practices 2.Support broad non-specialist user base to grow diversified user communities. 3.Think out of the Box toward next generation SDIs

7. Framework

8. GEOSS Next five years* Fully address the 2015 GEOSS Strategic Targets in all GEOSS areas Foster the development of GEOSS information (products, services) Ensure the delivery of societal benefits through the GEOSS Common Infrastructure Enhance data sharing (full and open access) and data distribution Build upon synergies across Societal Benefit Areas and cross- cutting areas; Ensure the continuity of relevant activities *From GEO work plan document

9. System Attributes

10. GEOSS Attributes  Identified Standards  Common Practices  Common nomenclature and semantic engines  Data harmonization  Sensor and model Webs (“virtual systems”)  Brokers for metadata and data interoperability  Consistent data quality indicators  Standardized calibration & validation  Data descriptions (e.g. common metadata records)  Provenance (traceability)  Openness Classification guidelines  Feedback to suppliers  Ombudsman Provides improved interoperability Delivers trusted data & information Is "Open” (i.e. Data Sharing Principles)

11. GEOSS Infrastructure  Enables communication to all users  Space-based (GEONETCast)  Internet-based  Mobile based  Mail distribution  Support for community observers  Alerts  Enables GEOSS resources to be readily used: discovered, accessed, processed and visualized  Defines and addresses information gaps between supply and demand.  Integration of data and services from multiple sources  Uniform geospatial descriptions Supports Broad range of users  Provides best practices InformationCommunications Capacity Building

12. GEOSS Value-areas  Improved data provenance  Data to information translation (models)  Improved information validation  Cross Domain  Persistent assets  Engaging SBA in GEOSS  Impacts: Metrics and Socio-economic indicators  National Programs  Commercial Systems  Propagation of Persistent Pilots  Education Programs Pilot Demonstrations Case Studies Stimulates Science & Technology Innovation Integrates with Community Developments

13. What could GEOSS do better than Google? Search Earth Images Earth Information* Data Access** Trusted data*** Data Harmonization Interoperability Multi-disciplinary analyses * Land cover analyses, etc ** With unified sign-in *** Data Quality and uncertainties

14. Targets – A & D Architecture: Achieve sustained operation, continuity and interoperability of existing and new systems that provide essential environmental observations and information, including the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) that facilitates access to, and use of, these observations and information. Data: Provide a shared, easily accessible, timely, sustained stream of comprehensive data of documented quality, as well as metadata and information products, for informed decision- making.

15. Targets – CBC, STC, UIC 3 CBC Enhance the coordination of efforts to strengthen individual, institutional and infrastructure capacities, particularly in developing countries, to produce and use Earth observations and derived information products. 4.STC Ensure full interaction and engagement of relevant science and technology communities such that GEOSS advances through integration of innovations in Earth observation science and technology, enabling the research community to fully benefit from GEOSS accomplishments. 5. UIC Ensure critical user information needs for decision making are recognized and met through Earth observations.

16. Targets – Agriculture & Biodiversity 6.Agriculture Improve the utilization of Earth observations and expanded application capabilities to advance sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry in areas including early warning, risk assessment, food security, market efficiency, and, as appropriate, combating desertification. 7. Biodiversity Establish, in conjunction with a comprehensive ecosystem monitoring capability, a worldwide biodiversity observation network to collect, manage, share and analyze observations of the status and trends of the world's biodiversity, and enable decision-making in support of the conservation and improved management of natural resources.

17. Targets – Climate, Disasters, Ecosystems 8. Climate Achieve effective and sustained operation of the global climate observing system and reliable delivery of climate information of a quality needed for predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change, including for better understanding of the global carbon cycle. 9.Disasters Enable the global coordination of observing and information systems to support all phases of the risk management cycle associated with hazards (mitigation and preparedness, early warning, response, and recovery). 10. Ecosystems Establish, in conjunction with a comprehensive biodiversity observation network, a wide- ranging monitoring capability for all ecosystems and the human impacts on them, to improve the assessment, protection and sustainable management of terrestrial, coastal and marine resources and the delivery of associated ecosystem services.

18. Targets Energy & Health 11. Energy Close critical gaps in energy-related Earth observations and increase their use in all energy sectors in support of energy operations, as well as energy policy planning and implementation, to enable affordable energy with minimized environmental impact while moving towards a low-carbon footprint. 12. Health Substantially expand the availability, use, and application of environmental information for public health decision-making in areas of health that include allergens, toxins, infectious diseases, food-borne diseases, and chronic diseases, particularly with regard to the impact of climate and ecosystem changes.

19. Water & Weather 13. Water Produce comprehensive sets of data and information products to support decision-making for efficient management of the world's water resources, based on coordinated, sustained observations of the water cycle on multiple scales. 14. Weather Close critical gaps in meteorological and related ocean observations, and enhance observational and information capabilities for the protection of life and property, especially with regard to high-impact events, and in the developing world.

20. SBA Targets Info SysObservations Agriculture Biodiversity Climate Disasters Ecosystems Energy Health Water Weather

21. Targets – A & D Architecture: Achieve sustained operation (1), continuity (2) and interoperability (3) of existing and new systems that provide essential environmental observations and information (4), including the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) that facilitates access to (5), and use of (6), these observations and information. Data: Provide a shared (1), easily accessible (2), timely (3), sustained (4) stream of comprehensive data (5) of documented quality (6), as well as metadata (7) and information products (8), for informed decision- making.

22. GEOSS Infrastructure Enables GEOSS resources to be readily discovered, accessed, processed and visualized Provides improved interoperability Delivers trusted data & information Is "Open”, in accordance with Data Sharing Principles DATA ARCHITECTURE

23. Observations Sustained Continuity Interoperability Information GCI Access and Use Architecture Shared Doc. Quality Accessible Timely Sustained DATA/INFO Metadata Decision Makers Data From other TGTS Harmonization Data-Core Interoperability …

24. Data tags

25. Input to ADC management

26. Defining steps forward - Architecture – GCI delivers data sets of the highest priority in UIC analyses. – Provide branded access of GEOSS information inventory to broader search community (e.g. Google) – Provide conversion of metadata schema for suppliers (ISO 19115 or ?) based on a GEOSS data model – Create a description of the total GEOSS Architecture including and extending beyond the CGI

27. Defining steps forward - Data Data Discovery and Access Data of Documented Quality Global Data Sets thru Harmonization & Interoperability

28. Defining steps forward - Management Build a work plan that focuses on achieving targets High Level Task Management Processes Focusing Resources of contributions Structure of GCI-CT / Relation of GCI-CT and other units with ADC Means for incorporating technical advances into GEOSS