Igol version 3

10.5.Importance of validation

One key place where in situ data and remote sensing come together is in product validation. The report stresses once again the importance of validating remote sensing-derived products, so that their value can be objectively tested and errors are reliably estimated. Unvalidated products should not be distributed by agencies. Validation results should be made openly available and the associated validation data should be easily accessible.

10.6.Key role of improved classification schemes

To turn observations into useful products requires agreement on the characteristics of such products. We note the call in several parts of the report for improvements in internationally agreed classification schemes such as those for ecosystem hierarchies and for those associated with land use and specifically for the built environment and associated infrastructure.

10.7.Delivering observations and products

Users are obliged to obtain their data from a multiplicity of sources: from space agencies, from government departments, universities, research organizations and at times from commercial organizations. While we recognize the desirability and strength of distributed data systems, we believe that providing more coordination in accessing these diverse sources such as portals linking users to multiple related data sets would greatly improve the take-up of data. Similarly increased attention by data providers to metadata standards would greatly improve data inter-use.

10.8.Data policies

A detailed discussion of the many different data policies for land data is beyond the scope of this report. We do stress the abundant empirical evidence that making data openly and freely available greatly increases its take-up and use. In particular it reduces the financial obstacle which prevents poorer countries and institutions from using the data for resource management and decision support.

10.9.Capacity building

Disparity in the understanding of what data are available, how to access, process and utilize them remains a major obstacle to broad uptake of the data, particularly in developing countries. The demand for capacity building in the use of land observations is high and comes primarily from the resource management community. Over the years a number of centers have been established offering training related to the observing systems and online tutorials have been developed. Procedures need to be put in place for updating these capabilities as new observing systems come on line. In the developing world there is wide variability in the capability to utilize the existing observing systems and the limited access to the full internet is often an obstacle. Lateral transfer of technologies between countries within a region offers an opportunity to focus on appropriate technologies, suited to a particular environment or set of resource problems. The observing systems are encouraged to increase emphasis on capacity building to help realize the full potential of their data.

10.10.New application areas

There are a number of new applications areas where land observations are starting to be used more extensively, e.g. carbon accounting, biodiversity assessments, human health and the expanding urban environment. As these fields develop through increased research and development, there is a need to develop a process whereby new requirements can be integrated into the design of future systems. This will mean operational agencies expanding their user base beyond the traditional weather agencies.

10.11.IGOL and GEOSS

There exist a number of land observing systems which are currently managed independently and are operating in an uncoordinated way. There would be considerable advantage in them being integrated into a small number of ‘system of systems’, which would increase data availability and use, ensure data continuity and reduce gaps caused by shortcomings in national programs. Such systems come from an increasingly large number of countries. In this regard GEOSS holds much promise but continued involvement of the community of practice that has been developed during the IGOL requirements-setting process will be needed.

Shortly IGOL will have completed its report to the IGOS Partnership. There are several compelling arguments for retaining IGOL and its Theme Team at least in the medium term. These are based, in particular, on the work of the successful Theme Team, whose members have considerable expertise and high international reputations in the field of terrestrial observations.

1) The scope of IGOL includes several areas (or sub-themes) where there is either an absence of international coordination mechanisms or the mechanisms are currently weakly developed. IGOL should provide the needed international coordination until other entities are able to fulfill these functions.

2) IGOL should ensure there is a comprehensive road map between its recommendations and GEO tasks and assist in defining or refining GEO tasks, where there is no task corresponding to an IGOL recommendation.

3) IGOL should provide advice on the implementation of GEO tasks involving terrestrial observations to the GEO secretariat and organizations who have taken responsibility for implementation.

4) IGOL’s recommendations cross-cut many GEO tasks relating to the land. The IGOL Theme Team has the expertise and willingness to provide scientific guidance to ensure that the implementation of the many types of land observations retain coherence and compatibility.

In carrying out these actions every effort should be taken to ensure that IGOL does not duplicate any activities of other bodies working with GEO, who are concerned with the international coordination of land observations.

As currently envisaged the Theme Team would act in a virtual mode with the large majority of interactions being carried out electronically.

All current members of the Theme Team are affiliated with or work for GEO’s Partners and Observers and their organizations support the continuity of the IGOL Theme Team as outlined in this proposal.

Most of the recommendations of IGOL have already been clearly mapped to GEO tasks and are supportive of GEO as shown in section 9.2. In addition to the specific linkages with GEO referred to above, the GEO Secretariat is encouraged to nominate a specific point of contact with IGOL.