[Wuhan Workshop]

CEOS Workshop on Rapid Response Information Systems will be held on May 5-7, 2004, Wuhan, China. For more information, please refer to: http://modis.whu.edu.cn/workshop/

The CEOS Ad-hoc Team on Utilization was established at the beginning of 2003 by the CEOS Chairman and charged with the task of making recommendations on improvements in data utilization to the 2003 CEOS Plenary. The participants in the Team – led by Dr. John Townshend (Univ Maryland) – brought a mix of both space agency and user experience, as well as truly international representation.

The term ‘data utilization’ is used here to suggest the application of Earth observation satellite data products and services across the whole spectrum of user groups and sectors of industry, science, and government. In looking for improvements, CEOS has aimed to identify ways in which to increase the uptake and use of the data for maximum overall benefit. 

Process

The team adopted the following process in its years work:

1 Identification of interesting case studies;

2 Analysis of the ‘improvements’ common to these examples;

3 Creation of an overall strategic framework/principles for the spaceagencies working with users to ensure increased utilization.

The first two steps were achieved through a series of meetings, and a number of telephone and face-to-face interviews with a broad spectrum of users in a variety of sectors of industry, science, and government. Over 30 case studies were analysed to identify lessons which might be learned. The team provided a full report to CEOS Plenary.

Materials

Documentation produced by the team is available from the menu at the top of the page:

- Utilization brochure produced by the CEOS Chair;
- A compendium of case studies;
- A compendium of the original case study templates.

(Lastupdate:March 16, 2004)