5th adc meeting

14.9 D. Middleton presented the status of AR-07-04, WMO Information System (WIS)
To consolidate WIS plans, up to 2008, the project and implementation plan was refined and the WIS Project Office was approved for 4 years. To develop regulatory documents, up to 2008, WIS technical compliance standards were finished (with interfaces compliant with GEOSS 10 year plan), user requirements are being documented (draft available) and the functional architecture is being documented (draft available ). Regarding WIS guidelines and manuals, 2007-2011 and beyond, WIS guidelines due in 2009 and other manuals are to follow by 2015. Regarding improvement of GTS capability, MPLS (multi protocol label switching) is expected soon over the networks and data representation and codes are under review.
Metadata standards are being developed. The first GISC (Global Information System Centre) will be operational in 2009 with others operational in 2009-2011. DCPCs (Data Collection or Product Centres) will be implemented in 2008-2011.
Regarding the GEO 2009-2011 Work Plan:

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  WMO-WIS should remain a principal “task” in the Work Plan – one with major infrastructure, deliverables, and substantial contribution to the GEOSS vision
  
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  WMO-WIS is more strongly infrastructure, although it does enable “observing systems”
  
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  The Work Plan should (at least) reflect principal tasks on the critical path to the success of GEOSS
  
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  Does the Work Plan reflect a viable management and oversight structure?
  
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  We should consider AR-{07,09}-04, consistent with prior designation. AR-07-04 is preferred, for consistency with existing body of documentation
  

Comment/discussion: WIS is a large task. It is hard to imagine how GEO could organize or manage this task. This can be handled by having WIS organized along the lines of GEO so that there is easy communication.