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CONTENTSReport of 1993 CEOS Plenary
CEOS/IGBP-DIS Pilot Project on Data Exchange
High Resolution Data Coverage for CEOS/IGBP-DIS Pilot Project
CEOS Working Group on Data (WGD)
CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV)
Introduction of CEOS Community Locator System (CCLS)
Report of 1993 CEOS Plenary (continued from page 1)---This page
Requirements for Participation in CEOS
News Highlights
1994 CEOS Meeting Calendar
Report of 1993 CEOS Plenary
(continued from page 1)CEOS affiliates' integrated data requirements
- CEOS is a unique forum for space agencies and data users to communicate
and interact. Efforts have been made to define user requirements for Earth
observation by the Affiliates, international global change research organizations.
A report of the CEOS User Requirements Workshop held May 27,1993 in Tokyo was presented. Dr. D. E. Hinsman, WMO, reported that Affiliates have developed a combined list of requirements to determine what instruments the Affiliates collectively require. Since the May 1993 User Requirements Workshop, Affiliates' data requirements and integrated requirements were incorporated into the CEOS Dossier as the Affiliates' Dossier.
CEOS Members agreed that the Affiliates' requirements statement will be very helpful to space agency planning activities. The Plenary discussed how to proceed with the requirements dialogue and how to refine documentation of the Affiliates' requirements. The Plenary endorsed a workshop to be convened in 1994 to continue interaction among Members, Observers, and Affiliates.
CEOS Dossier
The status of the CEOS Dossier was reported by Dr. H. Hopkins, ESA.
The Plenary reaffirmed their strong support for the Dossier and noted the
Dossier is critical to ongoing CEOS activities. CEOS has relied on the
Dossier to communicate its missions and program to the Earth Observation
communities and has depended on the Dossier as a key tool in coordinating
and implementing its programs. The Plenary agreed to updating the Dossier
in 1994, to include revision of the Affiliates' requirements and inclusion
of a section on calibration and validation. The Dossier should be updated
biennially after 1994 in coordination with the Affiliates' requirements
process.
A Canadian proposal to produce a special report on use of Earth observation
data for resource management and a Japanese proposal to produce a Satellite
Data Applications special report were also presented. They were considered
relevant as CEOS reports and the plans were endorsed.
Future CEOS Strategy
A discussion paper on Future CEOS Strategy was presented by Dr. D. Williams,
BNSC. The paper outlined seven CEOS activity areas (Dossier, Interaction
with Affiliates, Data Policy, Activities by the working groups, Proposed
Working Group on Networks, Pilot Projects and External Awareness) and recommendations
for Earth areas for the Plenary's considerations. The paper also recommended
that the Plenary accept general criteria to be used to assess proposals
for future CEOS activities.
The Plenary endorsed the following recommendations:
Members shoud assess proposals to CEOS against the following criteria:
-Is the ativity focused on improvig cooperation of space missions and
ensuring they meet use needs?
-Is the activity a role uniquely suited to CEOS? Would it be possible
ouside the CEOS framework? Would it be beneficial to Members generally?
-Activities should "assist" not "direct" Member agencies. -Are Members
willing to support an activity? It cannot be left to the Secretariat to
pursue all initiatives because it is not an executive body.
Prof. H. Stoewer indicated that DARA, as the 1994 CEOS Chair, would
coordinate with Dr. Williams and follow up on the Future CEOS Strategy
paper for the 1994 Plenary.
Global Network Initiatives
A Japanese proposal for the CEOS Working Group on Networks (WGN) and
the Global Satellite Observation and Information Networks (GSOIN) concept
was presented by Mr. H. Kikuchi, NASDA. The global network will establish
satellite data information networks linking CEOS participating organizations
and data users, thereby facilitating access to satellite data.
The proposal discussed the need for a WGN and the scope, structure,
approach and draft terms of reference for the proposed WGN. It was the
consensus of the Members that the proposal to create an ad hoc WGN is appropriate
and that CEOS needs to address networks. The Members agreed that the critical
activities for the ad hoc WGN in the near term would be defining user requirements
and existing and planned capabilities, and developing a methodology for
addressing and refining user requirements. The Plenary adopted the CEOS
Resolution on Networks and endorsed the establishment of the ad hoc WGN.
Others
The Plenary endorsed a proposed INPE-hosted workshop in Brazil in September
1994, to address the CEOS role with regard to non-CEOS countries, particularly
developing countries.
At the 1993 Plenary, CAST and NRSC in China, NSAU in the Ukraine, BSPO
in Belgium and FAO of the UN were approved as CEOS Members, Observers and
Affiliates. Prof. Stoewer announced that DARA, the 1994 Chair, proposed
to hold the Eighth CEOS Plenary September 26-28, 1994 in Berlin, Germany.
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