Subsidiary Groups

For information on the top level CEOS structure, click here.

Working Group on Information Systems and Services (WGISS)
Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV)
Working Group on Education, Training, and Capacity Building (WG-Edu)
Strategic Implementation Team (SIT)
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
Ad Hoc Disaster Management Support Group (DMSG)
Ad Hoc Team on Utilization
WSSD Follow-up Programme
Creation of New Working Groups and Selection of Chairs

WORKING GROUP ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SERVICES (WGISS)

WGISS aims to stimulate, coordinate, and monitor the development of the systems and services which manage and supply the data and information from participating agencies’ missions. WGISS aims to assist CEOS participating agencies, as data providers, to maintain efficient support to diverse users worldwide for easy access and application of that data. Thus, WGISS aims to address the needs of data providers by improving their efficiency of operation and maximizing the usefulness and benefit of the EO data which they gather. WGISS also addresses the needs of data and information users by aiding the development of simpler and wider access to the resources they require.

WGISS places great emphasis on the use of demonstration projects involving user groups to solve the critical interoperability issues associated with the achievement of global services. WGISS has developed a number of tools, standards, and services to assist access to and use of Earth observation data resources available online. Refer to the WGISS Web site for more details.

Most of the technical work of WGISS is carried out in subgroups and Task Teams. The goals and activities of WGISS are summarized in its Five-Year Plan.

WGISS has two subgroups:

• Technology and Services Subgroup

• Projects and Applications Subgroup

Access the WGISS Home Page.
View the WGISS Terms of Reference.
View a list of WGISS Members.
Contact WGISS.

WORKING GROUP ON CALIBRATION AND VALIDATION (WGCV)

WGCV is the second standing Working Group. The ultimate goal of the WGCV is to ensure long-term confidence in the accuracy and quality of Earth observation data and products. WGCV has two specific tasks:

1. sensor-specific calibration and validation, and

2. geophysical parameter and derived product validation.

Calibration is defined by the WGCV as “the process of quantitatively defining the system response to known, controlled signal inputs,” and validation as “the process of assessing, by independent means, the quality of the data products derived from the system outputs.”

To ensure long-term confidence in the accuracy and quality of Earth observation data and products, the WGCV provides a forum for calibration and validation information exchange, coordination, and cooperative activities. The WGCV promotes the international exchange of technical information and documentation, joint experiments, and the sharing of facilities, expertise, and resources. The WGCV also seeks to be the recognized first point of contact for the international user-community as far as calibration and validation is concerned.

The goals and activities of WGCV are summarized in its Three-Year Work Plan.

With the advent of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS), the WGCV has devoted increased attention to the validation of higher-level products.

WGCV has the following subgroups:

• Atmospheric Chemistry Subgroup

• Infrared and Visible Optical Sensors (IVOS) Subgroup

• Land Product Validation (LPV) Subgroup

• Microwave Sensors (MS) Subgroup

• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Subgroup

• Terrain Mapping (TM) Subgroup

Access the WGCV Home Page.
View the WGCV Terms of Reference.
View a list of WGCV Members.
Contact WGCV.
View the WGCV Dossier.
View the WGCV Newsletter.

WORKING GROUP ON EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND CAPACITY BUILDING (WG-EDU)

WGEdu was established by the 13th CEOS Plenary in November, 1999 and tasked to develop a strategy for future CEOS activities in education and training, particularly in developing countries. At the 17th CEOS Plenary in November 2003, the WGEdu was approved as a permanent working group and renamed the CEOS Working Group on Education, Training, and Capacity Building (WGEdu). The strategy established a coordination and partnership mechanism between CEOS agencies.

WGEdu goal is to facilitate activities that enhance international education and training in Earth Observation (EO) techniques, data analysis, interpretation and applications.

Since November 2002, the Chair of the WGEdu is Sergio Camacho, from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs; the Co-Vice Chairs are Christine Hutton from the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing and Maurizio Fea from the European Space Agency.

In 2002, a three year action plan was finalized and includes:

• establish an interactive resource web site containing information and links to materials on EO training and education;

• develop data exchange principles for education and training use;

• provide assistance where requested with EO curricula and data requirements;

• increase awareness of EO technology and its applications.

In response to the implementation plan for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August 2002, the WGEdu led a CEOS proposal for a Type II Partnership. Activities include:

• support and encourage the timely integration and refresh of Earth Observation data, information and techniques into education and training programmes;

• promote a growing cadre of specialists in EO and environmental issues and the expansion of the practical applications of EO data and information;

• underscore the relevance of Earth observation for policy and decision-making.

In 2003, the WGEdu plans to:

• strongly encourage all CEOS agencies to support education and training activities and to contribute to the education and training materials web site;

• organize a policy workshop to discuss the data exchange principles for educational purposes;

• contribute to the CEOS WSSD follow up programme, including support for an education and training Workshop for Developing Countries, being held in Africa;

• contribute to the CEOS Type II Partnership, by facilitating activities that substantially enhance international education and training in Earth observation techniques, data analysis, interpretation, use and application in support of the objectives of Agenda 21.

Access the WGEdu Home Page.
View the WGEdu Terms of Reference.
Contact WGEdu.

THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION TEAM (SIT)

The CEOS Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) was created in 1996 to advance the involvement of CEOS in the development of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS). The SIT comprises CEOS Member Principals with the authority to commit agency support to initiatives as they unfold. The SIT’s purpose is to define, characterize, and develop the vision for CEOS’s participation in IGOS, to define and coordinate the space component of IGOS, and to address, with the relevant IGOS Partners, the interface between the space component and the in situ component.

View the SIT Terms of Reference.

For more information on IGOS, please visit the IGOS Home Page.

THE GROUP ON EARTH OBSERVATIONS (GEO)

CEOS Representation in the Group on Earth Observations (GEO):

In July 2003, thirty-three nations plus the European Commission adopted a Declaration that signifies political commitment to move toward development of a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observation system(s). The Earth Observation Summit attracted a distinguished audience from around the world who are committed to significantly advancing our collective ability to gather Earth observation data. In February 2005, GEO adopted a 10-Year Implementation Plan which summarizes the essential steps to be undertaken by a global community of nations and intergovernmental, international, and regional organizations, to put in place a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The group is co-chaired by the United States, the European Commission, China, and South Africa. As a participant in GEO, CEOS has appointed the following as its representatives:

• GEO Architecture and Data Committee - Ivan Petiteville, ESA
• GEO Capacity Building Committee - Renee Luduc-Clarke, NOAA
• GEO Science and Technology Committee - Stephen Briggs, ESA
• GEO User Interface Committee ? Ivan Petiteville, ESA

More information on GEO is available from here.

AD HOC DISASTER MANAGEMENT SUPPORT GROUP (DMSG)

During its five year lifetime, CEOS supported natural and technological disaster management on a worldwide basis by fostering improved utilization of existing and planned Earth Observation (EO) satellite data. The DMSG delivered its final report to the CEOS Plenary in November 2002.

More information on DMSG is available at its legacy site.

CREATION OF NEW WORKING GROUPS AND SELECTION OF CHAIRS

For information regarding the creation of new Working Groups and the selection of Working Group Chairs, click here.

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Curator: CEOS Secretariat

(Last update: March 23, 2007)