CEOS Activities And Initiatives

Background
Current Activities
Proposing New Activities
Developing Country Activities

BACKGROUND

CEOS works through a ‘best efforts’ approach. Funding and resources required by activities are contributed in-kind by participating CEOS agencies. CEOS does not have a budget or permanent staff.

The work of CEOS spans the full scope of activities required for proper international coordination of Earth observation programs and the maximum utilization of their data, ranging from the development of detailed technical standards for data product exchange to the establishment of high-level interagency agreements on common data principles. Access to CEOS is through the Plenary, a Working Group, or the Secretariat. CEOS can provide the framework for efficient coordination across the CEOS agencies.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Access the CEOS Annual Report which summarizes current activities and initiatives being pursued by CEOS.

PROPOSING NEW ACTIVITIES

New projects or activities should further the cause of CEOS and be part of the CEOS mandate. It should be noted that activities could be carried out as part of normal WG and subgroup activities. The duration of the project (or activity) and overhead associated with linking the project (or activity) with CEOS would help define whether or not it lies within the CEOS domain.

New projects or activities that are considered to lie within the CEOS domain can take a more formal structure by classification under one of the following categories:

• normal WG or subgroup activity;

• ad hoc project or activity;

• specific projects; or

• one-time calibration campaign.

New activities that fit within the Terms of Reference of CEOS WGs can be initiated or integrated into the work plans of the WGs through the WG Chairperson. Other activities require development and approval at the Plenary level. Such projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis and can be introduced to the Plenary either by a Plenary Member or be presented to the Plenary via the Secretariat.

Persons who are interested in initiating new activities for CEOS are encouraged to discuss them at the earliest possible opportunity with a Plenary Member, WG Member, or the Secretariat to ensure the proposals receive prompt attention and are dealt with in the best manner.

DEVELOPING COUNTRY ACTIVITIES

The fundamental aim of CEOS in its developing country activities is to encourage the creation and maintenance of indigenous capability that is integrated into the local decisionmaking process, thereby enabling developing countries to obtain the maximum benefit from Earth observation.

CEOS agencies are urged to use their influence, both within the framework of CEOS and in their own individual activities, to ensure that efforts are maintained in support of developing countries and, indeed, are increased wherever practicable. In addition, CEOS Working Groups are advised to pay special attention to developing country initiatives, and coordination of these initiatives among the Associates and with aid-to-development organizations is encouraged.

The following general technical areas for cooperative activities in support of developing countries which CEOS agencies can promote have been identified:

• assessment of space capabilities versus user requirements;

• data access, ground structures, information services;

• assessment of data use, analysis of lessons from the past;

• promotion of well-designed pilot projects, including user involvement;

• increased education and training;

• growth of local talent;

• provision of infrastructures suited to local operational conditions; and

• improved use of existing user interfaces, with augmentation if necessary.

Specifically, CEOS agencies are implementing the following recommendations from the Eighth Plenary:

• Links should be established between CEOS and developing countries, both directly and through non-CEOS organizations.

• Communication should be facilitated among CEOS participants regarding developing country activities.

• CEOS interest in supporting activities with developing countries should be made widely known.

• CEOS should work with relevant development assistance agencies to identify mechanisms that would facilitate access to satellite data for developing country activities.

• CEOS should contribute to UN-related training programs and the proposed Centers on Space Science and Technology Education.

• The inclusion of developing country scientists in CEOS agencies’ visiting scientist programs is encouraged.

• Identification of and support for global change research test sites and planned airborne campaigns to facilitate coordination of individual agency plans is encouraged.

• CEOS Secretariat and Chairperson will ensure that time is devoted at each Plenary session to developing country issues. Within their fields of activity, the Working Groups are urged to give particular attention to the special requirements of developing countries.

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Curator: CEOS Secretariat

(Last update: January 22, 2008)