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CONTENTSReport from the 9th CEPS Plenary in Canada
Australian Research Agency Chairs CEOS
CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services (WGISS)---This page
CEOS and Ocean Color
What is the international Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA)
The Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) Technical Activities in the CEOS
Framework
Framework/CEOS Holds First Open ForumsNews Highlights/ Meeting Calendar
Summary of User Requirement Workshop
1993 CEOS Meeting Calender
CEOS Working Group on Information Systems and Services(WGISS)
Helen Wood
Chief, Office of Satellite Data
Processing and Distribution,
NOAA/NESDIC, USA
Hiroshi Kikuchi
Chief Strategic Planning, Earth
Observation Planning Department, Office of
Earth Observation Systems,NASDA, and
Deputy Director, Earth System Science
Division, Research and Development
Bureau, STA, Japan
Gerard Szejwach
Director, International Geosphere-
Biosphere Program Data and
Information System(IGBP-DIS)
The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)Working Group on Information Systems and Services (WGISS)is a brand-new Working Group, established at the 9th CEOS Plenary in October 1995(see related article on page 1 ). However, its roots can be found in its predecessors, the Working Group on Data (WGD) and the Interim Working Group on International Network Services (WGINS).
- The WGD was established at the initial meeting of DEOS in 1984 to facilitate
the use of data from Earth observation missions by coordinating and standardizing
aspects of data management. Over the years it had notable achievements
in areas such as formats (creation of CEOS superstructure), catalogs (establishment
of the CEOS International Directory Network),and auxiliary data (initiation
of the Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation project). Although WGD
formed a technical Network Subgroup, the CEOS Plenary felt that the importance
of global networks merited a higher-level forum. Therefore,the Plenary
created a one -year ad hoc Working Group on Networks, followed by a one-year
Interim Working Group on International Network Services.
By the time of the joint WGD/WGINS meeting in May1995, it became clear the work of WGD and WGINS would have to be rationalized and coordinated at the working group level, resulting in proposal to merge these two groups into the Working Group on Information Systems and Services. The 1995 Plenary established WGISS(see previous page, "CEOS Resolution on WGISS") and approved its Terms of Reference.
The overall objective of WGISS is to facilitate data and information management and services for users and data providers, including the capture, description, processing, access, retrieval, utilization, maintenance, and exchange of Earth observation data from satellites and supporting auxiliary data and information. WGISS will strive to increase the accessibility of data, the interoperability of data and information services, and the interconnectivity of systems used to transfer data and information.
WGISS is committed to responding to the need of users, including those in developing countries.WGISS will support improvements in the quality and reliability of data. As appropriate, WGISS will recommend standards and tools to enhance data interuse.
Chairmanship of the WGISS will rotate among WGISS members every two years. For the next years, WGISS will be chaired by Helen Wood of NOAA.
Hiroshi Kikuchi of NASDA is the Vice Chair designated to assume the Chair after two years. Gerard Szejwach of IBGP-DIS is the Vice Chair responsible for facilitating effective interaction with users.
The inaugural meeting of WGISS was held on November 13-16, 1995, hosted in Moscow by Roshydromet and the Russian Space Agency. The meeting was highly productive and made significant progress in organizing the Working Group to carry out its charter from the CEOS Plenary. The first day was spent reviewing the Plenary decisions regarding WGISS, summarizing recent accomplishments of the WGD and WGINS, and reporting on several demonstration projects supportive of the objectives of WGISS, The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing the future of WGISS, including a WGISS Five Plan to provide a framework for its activities. The group then discussed what WGISS should do as well as how WGISS should be organized to get its work accomplished. Regarding the sub-Working Group structure, WGISS decided that in the short term, the existing WGD subgroups are continued as interim WGISS subgroups; by October 1996, WGISS intends to implement a new sub- WG structure. The group appointed a writing team to prepare the next draft of the WGISS Five Year Plan, based on input from WGISS-1. The revised version will be circulated to WGISS members in early 1996for comment well in advance of the second WGISS meeting, which is planned for May 27-29, 1996, hosted by NASDA in Japan. The WGISS Five Year Plan should be completed in time for presentation at the 1996 CEOS Plenary.
For more information about WGISS, please contact Helen Wood, the WGISS Chair, at hwood@nesdis.noaa.gov or fax+1-301-457-5184.
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