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CONTENTSCEOS Holds Meeting on Integrated Global Observing Strategy
Report from the Second CEOS WGISS Meeting
WIGSS Subgroups Meet in Japan
News of The Working Group on Calibration and Validation
10th CEOS Plenary Advisory Note 1, April 1996---This page
CEOS EO mission/instruments capabilities and user requirements: the database goes on-line
Windows-based Metadata Generator for CEOS IDN now available - DIFENT
Launch of ADEOS/H-II Launch Vehicle Flight No.4/News Highlight/Meeting Calendar
10th CEOS Plenary Advisory Note 1, April 1996
Brian J.J. Embleton
Head, CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications (COSSA)
This is the first in a number of regular notes from CSIRO containing information about the 10th CEOS Plenary which will be held at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, 13-15 November 1996.
- We look forward with great pleasure to your participation in Plenary
events, both business and social.
This will be only the second time that a CEOS Plenary has been held in the southern hemisphere. Many participants will be visiting this part of the world for the first time.
We will be attempting to provide enough information for you to have an enjoyable visit. A logistics package and preliminary registration information will be dispatched around June. A draft agenda final registration information will follow in August.
Because there is a large amount of business to be completed at the Plenary, much of it complex, we will be insisting on the circulation of agenda papers well in advance to allow for deliberation before the event. Later in the year we will announce schedules for receipt of agenda papers.
With the expected high volume of issues to be dealt with, there will be no time for oral agency reports, except for new and remarkable events. Agencies are, however, encouraged to supply prepared material covering highlights of the preceding year. This material could be in written form for distribution at the Plenary or in electronic form for easier incorporation in the Plenary report or in the CEOS InforSys.
Secretariat Activities
Since the Montreal Plenary, the Secretariat has met on four occasions:
- 14 October 1995,in Montreal
6 December 1995, by Teleconference
7 February 1996, in Hobart, Australia
29 March 1996, in Seattle, USA
I welcome Harald to the Secretariat, where he has already had a productive impact.
On behalf of the Secretariat, and the CEOS agencies, I sincerely thank Huw for his long -term contribution to our work.
9th Plenary Outcomes
Several Key issues were flagged at the 9th Plenary as requiring further attention this year. I refer to several of these issues below, with some personal observation on actions to date.
Task Force report on mission gaps and overlaps
Dr Bizzarri has led a number of meetings, workshops and related activities, designed to revise the CEOS Dossier and enable analysis of long-term needs. The Task Force meeting in September will be another major milestone, prior to presentation of the final report at the Plenary.
Contribution of Affiliates to the work of CEOS
For some years the CEOS Affiliates have been strong contributors to CEOS activities. Their familiarity with Earth observation applications; benefits; and user requirements, have assisted, and in some cases have led, the development of activities such as the CEOS Dossiers; the Task force analysis; and the Integrated Global Observing Strategy. Many Affiliates take an active part in CEOS Working Groups. Perhaps it is time to reconsider the relativity of Affiliates and Members at a general level. The Secretariat is currently reviewing the CEOS Terms of Reference, at the request of the 9th Plenary, and will be making suggestions to Members before the 10th Plenary. In the meantime, I would be Pleased to receive comment on this issue.
Dialogue with private sector
A vigorous private sector is an important attribute of a long-term, viable Earth observation community. Many Members already engage in or otherwise support commercial activities, and it is natural that there should be interest from that sector in the work of CEOS. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that CEOS Members and Affiliates are overwhelmingly public-funded organization, and represent a wide range of approaches to the area of commercialization and commercial practice. In this context, it may be more practical for Members, Affiliates and Observers to continue to interact with the private sector within their own constituencies rather than for CEOS as a whole to make a more general engagement.
Regional emphasis
The 10th Plenary is only second in the eastern hemisphere-the Asia Pacific region. I am enthusiastic about Earth observation development in this region and CSIRO will be working closely with our regional colleagues, with the aim of highlighting at the Plenary some of the exciting developments taking place here.
Promotion of CEOS
Presentation on the work and plans of CEOS have been made at the following venues. The list is probably incomplete:
- International Forum on EI Nino, Washington, DC, 7 November 1995 (Dr Brent Smith, NOAA)
- ESCAP Education and Network Working Group meeting, Nakhorn Ratchasima, Thailand, 21 November 1995 (Jeff Kingwell, CSIRO)
- Oceanography 1996 Conference, Brighton, UK, 5-8 March 1996(Dr Garry Lindberg, past Chair)
The following CEOS Open Forums are planned. CEOS agencies are encouraged to participate.
- IGARSS 96, 28 May 1996 (Leslie Charles, NASA)
- ISPRS, 11 July 1996 (Harald Arend, ESA)
- IAF, October 1996 (Brian Embleton, CSIRO)
Spectrum Allocation
Competition with the communication industry for frequency bands has been a major issue for space science for decades, and may have increasing impact on Earth observation in coming years. Attention to this issue is given by the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG). All CEOS participants are encouraged to make both themselves and CEOS known to their local SFCG contacts.
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