Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) · 2009-03-20 · - the global coordination of Earth observation strategies results in more consistent international data as a basis

Global Earth ObservationSystem of Systems (GEOSS)

German GEOSS Implementation PlanD-GIP

Content

FOREWORD................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5Background................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5Objectives.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6NATIONAL STRATEGY AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................................... 8Use modern technologies.........................................................................................................................................................................8Enhance national coordination.............................................................................................................................................................. 9Act across discipline boundaries............................................................................................................................................................ 11Seize opportunities for new applications............................................................................................................................................. 11Safeguard information in the long term.............................................................................................................................................. 11Build capacity in partnership................................................................................................................................................................. 13Expand the national GDI to include remote sensing data................................................................................................................ 13Implement international standards..................................................................................................................................................... 13Open data policy....................................................................................................................................................................................... 13Integrate national activities................................................................................................................................................................... 14NEXT STEPS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS............................................................................................................................... 14

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Foreword

After the foundation of the transnational forum GEO for the development of GEOSS andthe adoption of the GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan at the 3rd “Earth ObservationSummit” in Brussels on 16 February 2005, the Federal Cabinet entrusted the FederalMinistry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) with taking the lead role andrepresenting Germany in GEO. The Ministry has been commissioned to mastermind theimplementation of GEOSS at national level and it pays the annual financial contribution ofGermany to the GEO Secretariat.

For the national implementation, BMVBS has established the national interdisciplinaryworking group D-GEO. The bodies participating in D-GEO currently are the GermanMeteorological Service (DWD), the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), the GermanFederal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG), the Federal Institute for Geoscienceand Natural Resources (BGR), the Commission of Geo-Information Business (GIW), as wellas the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which established the national GEO Secretariat forthe coordination of the activities on behalf of BMVBS.

The D-GEO working group is developing a national GEOSS Implementation Plan (D-GIP)that is to become a national strategy for the German participation in GEOSS. It is based ona comprehensive literary research, the experience and activities of the participatingbodies as well as a survey among users of geoinformation in Germany. This D-GIP will con-tinue to be developed and adapted to changing needs during the implementation pro-cess.

The present version of the D-GIP links the strategic GEOSS objectives to national inte-rests. It aims to make a contribution to integrate the national activities in the“Geoinformation services” policy area and is addressed to decision-makers involved inshaping the framework conditions in the Earth observation field in Germany. The objecti-ve is to help these decision-makers to identify the scope for actions in order to realize thebenefits of GEOSS with regard to national issues.

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Introduction

Background

Based on the resolutions of the G8 Summit in Evian(2003) to strengthen international cooperation on Earthobservation by- improving the coordination of existing Earth observa-

tion strategies and systems and identifying opportuni-ties to close information gaps with the overall objecti-ve of creating a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS),

- making a joint effort to involve developing countries, - exchanging observations from in situ1 and satellite-

based systems in an open manner with minimum time delay and at minimum cost,

and with regard to the Action Plan of the World Summiton Sustainable Develop-ment in Johannesburg(WSSD, 2002), the transna-tional forum "Group onEarth Observations" (GEO)was founded by a resoluti-on2 at Brussels in February2005 and a 10-Year Plan 3(2005-2015) to establish

GEOSS was adopted.

1 In this context, "in situ" refers to all terrestrial measure-ment systems, i.e. ground stations, anchored and free-floating buoys, measurement balloons, airborne observa-tion systems.2 http://www.d-geo.de/basedocs/EOS-III%20Resolution.pdf

3 http://www.d-geo.de/geoss-tyip_en.htm

Currently, 72 member countries, the EuropeanCommission, and 52 international organizations partici-pate actively in GEO. The participating internationalorganizations typically own or operate existing observa-tion systems. Therefore, they play a key role within theframework of the objectives of GEOSS. A GEO Secretariathas been established and is hosted by the WorldMeteorological Organization in Geneva. An ExecutiveCommittee guides the GEO in between the annual plena-ry meetings.

The role of GEOSS

From the GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan a seriesof „Tasks“ with specific objectives are derived, which areset out in the GEOSS Work Plan. Experts of the GEO mem-bers and Participating Organizations work jointly inthese tasks on a voluntary basis. The tasks are supervisedby four GEO committees, supported administratively bythe Secretariat and confirmed annually by the Plenary.

Germany has been holding a seat in the ExecutiveCommittee as elected member for Europe since 2005 andthereby assumes a leading role besides the USA, China,the European Commission, South Africa, Russia, Japan,Argentina, Norway, Panama, Australia and Uganda.

Building on existing structures

The membership and active participation of theEuropean Commission in GEO creates links with the keyactivities for implementing the INSPIRE Directive 4 andthe “Global Monitoring for Environment and Security”initiative (GMES).

4 Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and ofthe Council of 14 March 2007 establishing anInfrastructure for Spatial Information in the EuropeanCommunity (INSPIRE)

VisionComprehensive and reliable information on the

state and change of our environment make it possibleto manage the impacts of human society on the Earthsystem successfully and in a targeted manner. Theenvironmentally significant decisions are taken on thebasis of an open information system, and are thustransparent and comprehensible. Decision-makingprocesses in the public and private sectors, at differentlevels of government and within the internationalcommunity are coordinated effectively based on com-mon high-quality data. A policy of open access to com-prehensive Earth observation data enables well-foun-ded research findings for evaluating current and futu-re changes of the environment and their causes.

GEOSS is the globally interlinked and coordinatedsystem of high-performance Earth observations

systems that pursues this vision.

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Societal Benefit Areas (red) and

Cross-cutting themes of GEOSS

INSPIRE is targeted at creating a European infrastruc-ture for spatial information and services while GMESaims at developing an independent European Earthobservation system to support Community and nationalpolicies and directives. Many goals of INSPIRE and GMESalign with those of GEOSS and consequently contributekey elements toGEOSS. However,both systems canbe substantiallycomplementedand made morepowerful byGEOSS.

As a “Systemof Systems“, GEOSS takes into account that manyEuropean and international Earth observation systemsand coordination structures have worked successfully formany years. These systems are represented in GEO by theresponsible organisations (see examples in text box).

There is a close connection between the goals of GEOregarding the global coordination of Earth observation,the development and operation of a global GeodataInfrastructure (GDI), and the corresponding nationalefforts. The development of a national GDI (GDI-DE) as anintegral part of E-Government in Germany is coordinatedin a steering group (LG GDI-DE) across the different levelsof government including federal, state and local authori-ties. The corresponding coordination of the federal admi-nistration takes place in the Interministerial Committeeon Geoinformation Services (InterministeriellerAusschuss für das Geoinformationswesen, IMAGI).

ObjectivesThe implementation of D-GIP should enable Germany,

as a member of GEO and a major location for science andtechnology in the field of earth observations as well ashaving in place comprehensive environmental and deve-lopment policies, to both make contributions to the deve-lopment of GEOSS and benefit from GEOSS. In this way,Germany can not only assume a global responsibility butalso ensure that its citizens benefit from this global effort.

The global objectives of GEOSS – creating a user-orient-ed, comprehensive, coordinated and long-term globalEarth observation system based on the numerous butindependently established and operated existing obser-vation systems along with developing and operating thecorresponding geodata infrastructures – are of superiorGerman interest:

- existing investments in the development and operati-on of national and international Earth observation networks and systems increase in value; more data and a simplified access to data lead to better results

- bringing together and standardizing global data records accelerates and improves the understanding of large-scale environmental processes and provides an impetus in the fields of environmental and especi-ally climate policy

- bringing together data from different disciplines enables new scientific findings

- the simplified access to data opens up new potential for public and private services

- the international cooperation in the fields of Earth system science and adaptation to climate change is strengthened and facilitates the agreement of adequa-te strategies for action

- the global coordination of Earth observation strategiesresults in more consistent international data as a basis for advising policymakers on global environmental issues

Additional interests in connection with GEOSS resultfrom political and social issues to whose solution a glo-bally coordinated Earth observation system may contri-bute. In various documents of principles like the “Nati-onal Strategy on the Protection of the Seas”, the ”Nati-onal Strategy on Biodiversity”, the “2nd Soil ConservationReport” or the “German Report on the Implementationof the WHO "Children’s Environment and Health ActionPlan for Europe” and the action programme “iD 2010 -Information Society Germany 2010”, the Federal Govern-ment highlights the importance of geoinformation for asustainable political and administrative decision-makingprocess as well as for monitoring the implementation ofpolitical decisions.

Key Participating Organizations in GEO withGerman contributions:- European Space Agency (ESA)- European Organisation for the Exploitation

of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)- Intergovernmental Oceanographic

Commission (IOC)- International Association of Geodesy (IAG)and a number of Programmes of the UnitedNations.

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In focus: ClimateFrom measurements andobservation data, there is nodoubt that the climate doeschange and, in fact, hasalready done so. This is oneof the core statements of theFourth Assessment Report ofthe IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change(IPCC), which goes to showthe importance of climatemeasurements and observa-tion. In order to betterunderstand natural climate processes and the variabilityof our climate, and to better evaluate the anthropogenous factors influencing globalclimate change, the continued long-term and compre-hensive observation of climate-relevant parameters onthe global, regional, and local levels will be indispensable.As a result of the foreseeable inevitable and sometimesdramatic effects of the predicted climate change to bothhumans and nature, the public and political discussionson necessary counter-measures have already gone a longway.

The issue has been a political priority and experienced adynamic development since the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)went into force in 1994. The UNFCCC imposes uponContracting Parties, inter alia, an obligation to supportrelevant research and make systematic observations. Thepresentation of scientific insight by IPCC in particularhave advanced the political decision-making process.

The high political priority attributed to the develop-ment of a suitable strategy for dealing with global cli-mate change in Germany has resulted in a strongGerman commitment to further develop internationalconventions on climate protection and their implemen-tation at the European and national levels. Moreover,the research programme "klimazwei" ("ClimateTwo"),for example, has been designed to boost research intoadaptation strategies.

Without global climate observations and the spread ofthe information obtained, no further progress in theunderstanding of the global climate and its variabilitynor the monitoring and evaluation of strategies for themitigation of the climate change and for the adaptationto its effects seem reasonably conceivable. The globalinterconnection of observation systems and networks aswell as long, homogeneous and comparable observatio-nal time-series are needed to detect and separate clima-te trends and variations. The development and improve-ment of global and – particularly – regional models toproject climatic developments also requires long-termhistorical global observations No single institution nor any single country are in aposition to provide a global observation system or tomake the historical data available for all required para-meters. GEO and GEOSS take a unique position in thiscontext and play a pivotal role in the development ofknowledge-based strategies for responding to the clima-te change.

Temperature deviation April2007 from multi-annual meanl1961-1990 © Deutscher Wetterdienst.

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Strategic deliberations on how to position Germany inthe political, scientific and economic field also play animportant role. In the future, the global coordination ofEarth observation systems resulting from GEOSS will alsoinclude fundamental programmatic and, as appropriate,legal agreements as well as setting technical standards,which also bear a close relation to relevant activities wit-hin the programmes for the development and operationof geodata infrastructures. These transverse areas ofGEOSS are of particular importance especially in the cur-rent development phase. They require an active andcoordinated participation of Germany.

Consequently, at the national level the following funda-mental objectives are pursued with GEOSS:

- make a contribution to establishing a solid global data base for supporting political decisions

- make access to comprehensive global Earth observati-on information (data, metadata, products) as unre-stricted, open and complete as possible

- promote public and private services in the field of Earth observation

- establish the European initiatives INSPIRE and GMES asEuropean contribution to GEOSS and enhance and expand these initiatives by GEOSS

- participate actively in shaping GEOSS while safeguar-ding German and European interests in the fields of research, technology, standardization and data policy

- harmonise GEOSS with existing initiatives and systems in which Germany is involved

- harmonize GEOSS with the national geodata infrastructure (GDI-DE)

The cabinet decision of 29 November 2006 entruststhe Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and UrbanAffairs with coordinating the implementation of GEOSS.The D-GEO working group established by the Ministryhas elaborated recommendations for further actionbased on surveys and contributions especially by the spe-cialized federal agencies. These recommendations areset out in the present German GEOSS ImplementationPlan.

National strategy and recommendationsThe German national strategy towards GEOSS aims at

both, implementing the GEOSS Implementation Plan atnational level and establishing the global coordination ofthe Earth observation systems. Thereby, Germany assu-mes its international responsibility in the fields addres-sed by GEOSS while also pursuing its own interests insuch a system.

Use modern technologiesOnly efficient public and private services using

modern processes based on Earth observation informati-on, can realize the benefits intended with the substantialpublic investments in Earth observation programmes.Important examples are the use of information productsfrom ongoing in situ and satellite-based observation pro-grammes for national reporting obligations like theNational Forest Inventory or public tasks such as preven-tive and operational disaster management. Where thereare concerns regarding the suitability of available earthobservation information, it should be examined if theseconcerns can be overcome by formulating specific requi-rements to be met by the relevant systems.

In addition, opportunities arising from the improvedavailability of such information as a result of GEOSS innew areas should be developed and used consistently.Especially in areas where Earth observation informationhas not or hardly been used until now obstacles must beovercome in many cases. Conceptional developments forlinking weather data with the spreading of infectiousdiseases, for example, are hardly known in the public sec-tor. The systematic development of such service capaci-ties in the public sector supports the “modern state”efforts and also fosters innovative developments in theprivate sector. An edge in modern geoinformation tech-nology supported by demand from the public sector alsoopens perspectives for the German economy in interna-tional competition.

Recommendation 1: Use modern geoinformation technologiesThe innovative use of modern geoinformation technology in thepublic sector is to be systematically called for and promoted. Thisincludes a) providing personnel capacities in the relevant authoritiesb) regularly exchanging experiences regarding relevant scientific

and systemic developments, e. g. within the GEO process

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Enhance national coordinationIn order to be able to politically support the professionalparticipation of different institutions in individual tasks,introduce national priorities into the international coor-dination at the political level, and relate important deve-lopments to interested parties nationally, the overar-ching GEO activities should be coordinated at nationallevel. This also applies particularly to the national activi-ties and contributions to GMES. Moreover, the contents ofthe transverse areas system architecture, data policy anddata management have to be introduced in the ongoingdiscussions of the development of the geodata infrastruc-tures. This task is currently carried out by the nationalGEO Secretariat, which the German Aerospace Centeroperates on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport,Building and Urban Affairs. The Secretariat maintainscontact with the national institutions and authoritiesworking in the field of Earth observation. At the moment,however, the national coordination is suffering fromscarce personnel capacities in the Federal Ministry ofTransport, Building and Urban Affairs, as well as in thenational GEO Secretariat. In order to make an appropria-te coordination and information of the relevant bodiespossible, the responsible ministry has to provide adequa-te staffing to address the issue.

The D-GEO Secretariat’s interlinking of the GEO activitieswith the closely related programmes GMES and theEUMETSAT satellite program has proven to be very sensi-ble and should be continued. In the field of data infra-structure, the close coordination with theInterministerial Committee on Geoinformation Services(IMAGI) and the GDI-DE Secretariat has stood the test. Allrelevant ministries and authorities should have GEOSScontact persons in order to facilitate the national coordi-nation and specifically to enable the recommendedsystematic evaluation of new potentials. Existing structu-res should be built on for this.

In those areas where Earth observation issues of aut-horities or federal ministries are coordinated by interna-tional organisations, consultations should be ensured atthis level to provide for implementing a coherent strate-gy. Important examples for this are the national partici-pation in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)of the United Nations, in programmes of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA) and the European Organization forthe Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)as well as in the programmes of the European Union.Various Federal Ministries and their respective executiveagencies are responsible for implementing and fundingthese activities.

The national geodata infrastructure (GDI-DE) developedand operated as a result of national interest and theINSPIRE Directive provides access to a large fraction ofthe German in situ data for the monitoring of the envi-ronment. In order to make this infrastructure considera-bly more efficient and effective in the future and to beable to ensure a uniform quality of basic geodata nation-wide, the Working Committee of the SurveyingAuthorities (Arbeitsgemeinschaft derVermessungsverwaltungen, AdV) has decided on 13September 2007 to identify and establish new sustainablecooperation structures on a solid legal basis for a core ofsubject-neutral official geodata. The related implementa-tion issues are currently examined in a project groupestablished by the AdV.

Recommendation 2: Enhance national coordination The responsible ministry, currently the Ministry of Transport, Buildingand Urban Affairs, should ensure adequate funding and personnelcapacities for the issue at the ministry and for the national GEOSecretariat.

Recommendation 3: Creating a network for coordinationAll relevant ministries and federal agencies should name contact per-sons for the national coordination of GEOSS activities. Existing structu-res should be built on for this.

Recommendation 4: Promote the provision and use of basic geodata

The provision and use of subject-neutral official basic geodata as abasis for specialized applications is to be made more efficient andeffective.

Relevance of the GEO Societal Benefit Areas for federal agenciesand ministries. Incomplete due to lack of direct participation inthe D-GEO process from some relevant departments.

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In focus: EnergyThe adequate and reliable supply of energy is one of mostimportant foundations of our society and economic deve-lopment and, therefore, takes high priority in Germanyand elsewhere. Limited reserves of non-renewable ener-gy sources as well as risks and environmental damagesassociated with their use (exploitation, transport, energyproduction, storage) have made the efficiency of energyproduction a key issue. The interest in regenerative sour-ces of energy has increased enormously over the past fewyears in light of the environmental burden caused by theconsumption of primary energy and by questions thathave arisen out of the concern for a secure supply of ener-gy from traditional sources.

Prospects for the use of globally-networked Earth obser-vation data exist in efforts of gaining efficiency in the production and exploitation of energy, increasing ener-gy supply security through demand prediction, in assi-stance to the exploration of non-renewable sources ofenergy, and in monitoring of environmental damages arising from the exploration of primary energy sources or from the production, transport, and consumption ofenergy.

Efficiency gains in the production and exploitation ofenergy through the integrated use of information gain-ed from earth observationcan be expected in tworespects: First, as energydemand is often directlycoupled to environmentalconditions (e.g. the demandfor heating energy dependson external ambient tem-perature) earth observati-ons and model predictionsbased on these can improve demand predictions. Quan-tities of supply reserves may thus be reduced without jeopardizing supply security. The quantities no longer needed constitute a substantialsaving potential. Second, measurable environmentalparameters and models play a major role in managing the highly volatile regenerative energy sources wind,solar, and water.

Not only can GEOSS assist in the siting, but also – at leastto some extent – with operations. For example, a prere-quisite for the efficient operation of a hydro-electricpower station is a precise hydrological prediction basedon snow-melt, precipitation data and rainfall-runoffmodels.

The exploitation of primary energy sources and energyproduction are of particular relevance with respect todetecting and controlling environmental damage.There is a high demand for global – and globally uni-form – data on energy production and related emissionsfor developing both national legal instruments andinternational obligations, such as the Kyoto Protocoland any successor agreements, and for monitoring com-pliance with these. The trade in CO2 certificates, too,with its necessary accounting and control, will need torely on data from a comprehensive Earth observationsystem.

Due to the close connection between economic deve-lopment and energy supply, the subject of energy is alsoa central issue in economic co-operation with develo-ping countries. Increasingly, the scope is broadeningbeyond energy supply as a prerequisite for economicgrowth to include also the endeavour to fill the growingdemand for energy in developing countries from sustai-nable sources, where possible. Germany’s initiatives ineconomic co-operation can make use of globally-net-worked Earth observation systems for planning purpo-ses but also, where appropriate, complement suchsystems in dedicated projects in partner countries.

As a result of the economic importance of the energyissue, there is a substantial interest in developing busi-ness plans based on innovative value-adding and use ofEarth observation information gained from GEOSS. Firstsuch plans are already pursued, for example in two pro-jects (“Leitprojekte”, entitled "Geothermics" and "RawMaterials") sponsored by the Commission for Geo-Information Business, which has been set up by theGerman Federal Government.

Annual sum of global solar irri-diance, 2004, derived from theSOLEMI data base, (DLR)

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Act across discipline boundariesImplementing GEOSS at national level also means

creating interconnections between disciplines andresponsibilities of different ministries and agencies inorder to address the broad societal benefit areas of GEOSS(climate, energy, health, etc.). Germany will, withoutdoubt, benefit from this linking-up not only in connecti-on with GEOSS.

The situation in the area climate is exemplary: TheFederal Ministry for the Environment, NatureConservation and Nuclear Safety is responsible for clima-te change mitigation measures and for reporting obliga-tions e.g. according to the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.The executive agencies of the Federal Ministry ofTransport, Building and Urban Affairs operate importantnational observational networks which are, however,complemented to a considerable extent by other measu-rements for which the Federal States are responsible.Relevant research is carried out mainly at universitiesand other research centers, often within projects fundedby the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.Important points of contact also exist with divisions ofthe Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (e.g.space-based observation systems, innovation), theFederal Ministry of the Interior (Geodata Infrastructure),the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (effects of climate change in developingcountries) and the Ministry of Defence (climate change asa security risk). At international level Germany is a mem-ber of numerous relevant organizations including theWMO, the Intergovernmental OceanographicCommission (IOC), the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations (FAO), and participa-tes in the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP). Via programmes of ESA, EUMETSAT and theEuropean Union Germany is involved in the develop-ment and operation of satellite systems, which also gene-rate climate-relevant data.

An appropriate strategy to mitigate climate changeand adapt to its direct consequences has to be formula-ted taking into account and in line with all these activi-ties. Providing a reliable global data basis for future poli-cy decisions has been and remains one of the main moti-vations for GEOSS.

Seize opportunities for new applicationsUtilization preparation activities in the fields of matu-

re scientific and technological development foster newinnovative applications. An important example for this isthe area of disaster preparedness, mitigation, warning,response and rehabilitiation. Here, it is essential to worktowards linking information users and information pro-viders more closely. Establishing relevant and reliablegeodata bases and competencies in using these bases areother prerequisites for developments which can be com-pleted in the near future. The high potential of the inte-grated use of Earth observation data in these fields hasbeen recognized in principle by the responsible persons.In a few cases the transition from experimental applicati-on and demonstration to operational application hasalso already been advanced by project grants. A systema-tic dialogue with clear requirements and benefit analy-ses, however, could further accelerate this process andthereby not only allow for improved civil protection butalso advance the maturity of corresponding informationservices.

Safeguard information in the long termIt is the key element of a national Earth observation stra-tegy to ensure the operation of the required Earth obser-vation systems within the national and European sphereof responsibility and influence in the long term. In thecase of in situ instrumentation a considerable addedvalue is generated by the coordination of these systemsin GEOSS since a wider coverage is achieved at relativelylow cost. The needed quality of the derived informationrequires continued and regular investments into the insitu observation systems by their owners. In the field ofsatellite-based Earth observation what is missing mosttoday are reliable long-term funding prospects for thecontinuity of the satellite systems and the maintenanceof the created data archives as well as, and not least, forthe effective national use of the data. This is most urgentin the GMES programme.

Recommendation 5: Act across discipline boundariesThe requirements for national and international Earth observationsystems should be aligned in working groups across disciplines, mini-stries and administrative bodies.

Recommendation 6: Seize opportunities for new applications Innovative applications of Earth observation information in particularin the field of disaster control should be developed and evaluated inclose cooperation with information services providers and responsibleofficials.

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In Focus: Natural disastersStorms and storm surges, hard rain, heavy snowfall,floods, droughts, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, earthqua-kes, tsunamis, meteorite impacts, landslides, and avalan-ches put human lives and property at risk in all parts ofthe world. The effects of human activities frequently facilitate the occurrence of such events. In many casesanthropogenous changes to the natural environmenthave intensified such events or have weakened naturalprotective mechanisms and, thus, have enhanced theireffects. Natural events typically become disasters onlywhere humans or sensitive technical or social infrastruc-tures are affected. The same applies to man-made dis-asters such as pollution in coastal or inland waters.

Benefiting from its climate, geology and geography,Germany affected by natural hazards such as earth-quakes, floods, or tornadoes relatively infrequently – or with a low intensity. Nevertheless, natural events, particularly meteorological events such as storms andfloods, continue to cause substantial damage in Ger-many. This is primarily due to Germany's high popu-lation density and concentration of property assets. TheMunich Re re-insurance company estimates the econo-mical damages in Germany caused by natural disastersduring 1989-98 to some 10 billion Euro (at 1998 prices).

Furthermore, Germany is often affected indirectly by itsmany relations with regions that are more frequently, ormore intensely, affected by natural disasters. Germany’seconomic co-operation activities with developing coun-tries can thus benefit from an improved co-ordination ofEarth observation information. This is also true in othercontexts such as the protection of German citizens abro-ad. One example: More than 500 German citizens peris-hed in the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004,making it one of the most devastating "German" naturaldisasters. This demonstrates that German involvement in fighting the adverse effects of natural and other dis-asters elsewhere in the world is not merely about hel-ping those affected as a token of moral responsibility, but often lies in our own immediate interest.

Suitable Earth observation systems can generally sup-port all stages of the "circle of disaster management" and can, thus, reduce the cost (including lives and mo-netary assets) generated by disasters.

The necessary developments have already progressedsubstantially in Germany. Numerous German instituti-ons and research centers are taking an active part in therelevant GEOSS and GMES activities, particularly in thepreparation of the GMES "Emergency Response" service.The "Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI), aservice branch ofthe GermanAerospaceCenter, has beenshowcasingpotential applica-tions far beyondGermanythrough its manyactivities andinformation pro-ducts.

On the Germannational level, operational routines relying on Earthobservation systems in coping with natural disastersexist particularly in the framework of the WeatherWarning Scheme maintained by the GermanMeteorological Service (DWD). The Service alreadybases ist service on indispensible global Earth observati-on data made available through the co-ordinationmechanisms of the WMO.

Additional operational procedures using Earth observa-tion systems are in place in the flood warning centersand the federal and Länder civil protection services.Moreover, there is substantial potential for using global-ly co-ordinated Earth observation data in responding tomajor natural disasters abroad. These can provide a reli-able and up-to-date information base to dispatched res-cue workers, enabling targeted and effective help.

The topic of natural disasters also receives a lot of atten-tion from private industry, particularly insurance com-panies and information providers deriving informationproducts relating to natural disasters from Earth obser-vation data. The Commission for Geo-InformationBusiness is sponsoring a corresponding project on thistopic, too (“Leitprojekt” entitled "Georisks").

Floodmap supporting relief units duringthe Elbe flood in April 2006 (Source: Centerfor Satellite-Based Crisis Information ofDLR)

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Here, Germany has to use its influence to support thepolicy strategy also by financial obligations. The sameapplies to the continued support of the ARGO deep-seadrifter programme (Array for Realtime GeostrophicOceanography) which contributes substantially to theobjectives of the Global Ocean Observation System(GOOS).

Build capacity in partnershipWith the capacity of global Earth observation systems

being in the German interest, capacity building activitiesshould be intensified in this field. Conceivable measuresinclude further education projects in selected countries,e.g. within the framework of development cooperationprojects. The sponsoring of measuring stations byGerman institutions has also proven to be effective inmany cases. Small budgets in the relevant institutions forsuch purposes may already bring about big improve-ments.

Expand the national GDI to include remote sensingdataThe development of a high-performance and compre-

hensive geodata infrastructure and its integration intothe corresponding European and international structu-res is currently one of the key priorities. With the GDI-DEsecretariat an appropriate national coordination structu-re has been established for developing GDI-DE with theinvolvement of the federal states and the federal govern-ment. The issue of how to integrate appropriately theremote sensing data archived at the German RemoteSensing Data Center (DFD) of the German AerospaceCenter, however, has not yet been settled due to thenecessary clarification of the responsibilities for a sustai-nable integration. For this reason the institutional and,potentially, legal obstacles have to be cleared now.Simultaneously the agencies responsible for the develop-ment of the GDI-DE should continue to play an activepart in the tasks related to the system architecture withinGEO and the German Remote Sensing Data Center shouldbe actively involved.

Implement international standardsAn example of such a successful coordination of requi-

rements is the formulation of Climate MonitoringPrinciples (GCOS-CMPs) by the Global Climate ObservingSystem (GCOS), coordinated and funded to a great extentby the WMO, as well as the agreement of about 40 essen-tial observation parameters for describing the climatesystem (Essential Climate Variables, ECVs). It is an impor-tant German contribution to GEOSS that these principlesare applied to the design and operation of nationalobservational networks.

Open data policyData policy is a highly dynamic issue within GEO. A

wide-ranging discussion on this issue at national level isessential in order to be able to play an active part in sha-ping pivotal developments in this field for the future. Inthis context, it should be borne in mind that the principleof an open and cost-efficient access to high-quality Earthobservation data, which is also contained in the INSPIREDirective of 14 March 2007, is an essential foundation forGEOSS and, therefore, must not be questioned. This ispossible, in principle, at least with regard to the datagoverned by the German Environment Information Law(Umweltinformationsgesetz). Moreover, the social bene-fit of an open data policy has to be taken into account aswell as its economic significance for innovative develop-ments especially of small and medium-sized enterprises.This discussion on principles has to be broad and publicand the decision has to be taken at high political level.

Recommendation 7: Safeguard information in the long termGermany has to emphatically advocate the stable operation of therequired Earth observation systems. This includes, inter alia, the ope-ration of the national in situ observational networks and the consi-stent implementation of the GMES space component.

Recommendation 8: Enable Capacity Building at all levelsNational institutions operating in situ observation networks shouldbe enabled to improve the capacity of global in situ observation net-works for mutual benefit by direct cooperation with partner organiza-tions in developing countries.

Recommendation 9: Expand the national GDI to include remotesensing dataThe integration of the remote sensing data of the DFD into the GDI-DEshould be vigorously pursued. The DFD should prepare a proposal onthis for the GDI-DE steering group.

Recommendation 10: Implement international standards natio-nallyThe operators of national Earth observation systems should strictlyimplement agreed observational standards.

Recommendation 11: Create framework conditions for an opendata policyThe Federal Government should create the framework conditions foran open and largely unrestricted public access to data in the field ofEarth observation and geoinformation data.

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In Focus: WaterMan interferes massively in the natural water cycle andhas come to controlling the flow of terrestrial waters toa large extent. Without such intervention, many regi-ons of the world would be inhabitable, or at least notarable. In order to achieve a sustainable use of the limi-ted water resources an improved understanding watercycle is needed.

Even in Germany, which is not threatened by pronoun-ced water scarcity, farmers and water managers, forexample, can benefit from improved model predicti-ons. In addition, the risk of drought and extreme floo-ding events is increasing as an effect of climatechange. Consequently, developing appropriate andsustained measuresof water manage-ment and flood pro-tection is indispen-sable.

Water scarcety is amuch more existen-ce-threatening pro-blem in many deve-loping countries, ofcourse. In the con-text of the Germaneconomic co-opera-tion with thesecountries the issuealso affects Germanyindirectly. Hence,investments intoexpanding the glo-bally co-ordinated Earth observation to improve ourunderstanding of the global water cycle and ist variabi-lity are an important contribution to assuming globalresponsibility.

Pre-emptive conflict prevention is a further, oftenneglected aspect of water management. Noticablylimited water resources have frequently led to conflic-ting interests in their use and allocation. Where seve-ral states share a water resource, a coordinated resour-ce management is a crucial tool for preventing poten-tial escalation, which might strongly affect Germaninterests (e.g. in the middle east).

The German Advisory Council on Global Change(WBGU), in its report entitled "World in Transition –Climate Change as a Security Risk" and published in2007, has warned of the potential conflicts that mayarise, for example, from deteriorating freshwaterresources and recommends setting up a global infor-mation and early-warning system.

Integrate national activitiesInfluence on the shaping of GEOSS is possible by parti-

cipating actively in the technical Tasks of the GEO WorkPlan and in the GEO Committees. Contributions to andparticipation in GEO are in general voluntary. It is expec-ted of the stakeholders that they get involved out of theirown interest and fund their activities themselves, ifnecessary. Up to now, German institutions have partici-pated in individual tasks and committees due to owninterest and often because of direct responsibilities. Inorder to ensure a sustainable commitment, adequatefinancial means should be provided at national level.This does not only enable individual persons and institu-tions to participate in GEOSS but also facilitates the natio-nal coordination of the participation in GEOSS. Thereby itis possible to attend to national interests consistently andderive the greatest possible benefit from the system.

Next steps in the implementation processEstablishing the national GEO Secretariat with theGerman Aerospace Center and the D-GEO working groupconstitute important first steps in the national GEOSSimplementation process. Both bodies also play a key rolein the further implementation of GEOSS.

The national GEO Secretariat is to continue to performthe following functions:- national point of contact and information on GEO/

GEOSS for interested parties at national level as well as for the GEO Secretariat, the EU Commission, etc.

- support of the German delegation in the preparation of the GEO Plenary as well as the meetings of the Executive Committee and the EU High Level Working Group on GEO

- coordination of the D-GEO working group- coordination of GEO activities with IMAGI, LG GDI-DE

and the national point of contact for INSPIRE- Coordination of GEO activities and implementation

with GMES and INSPIRE at national level

Mean annual flow and flow variability© German Federal Institute ofHydrology

Recommendation 12: Integrate national activitiesIn new projects at national level that are relevant to GEOSS, the neces-sary financial means for linking these projects with the internationalGEO activities should be budgeted for from the beginning.

Recommendation 13: Enable participationAt national level, financial means should be made availble to Germaninstitutions to enable them to participate directly in GEO tasks andcommittees (travel allowances, appropriate personnel grants).

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The D-GEO working group has to be extended to inclu-de all ministries affected by GEOSS. In this context, eachof the relevant ministries (BMI, BMWi, BMELV, BMVBS,BMG, BMU, BMBF, BMZ, possibly BMVg) and the affectedexecutive agencies should communicate at least onepoint of contact to the D-GEO Secretariat. The prerequisi-te for the continuation of these activities is that sufficientpersonnel capacities and equipment for fulfilling thesetasks are allocated in the responsible Federal Ministry ofTransport, Building and Urban Affairs and the D-GEOSecretariat.

After an initial potential analysis with regard to a par-ticipation in GEOSS (use and contributions) it should beexamined if a specific budget for such participation is tobe provided in the corresponding institutions and mini-stries. Typically, these institutions will invest limited per-sonal resources to formulate their own interests withregard to GEOSS and to internally propagate sensible ser-vice capacities. Where applicable, this should includefunds to provide targeted support to important capacitybuilding measures in developing countries. As theresponsible ministry, the Federal Ministry of Transport,Building and Urban affairs should also examine whetherthe realization of national interest can be improved byproviding travel allowances for national representativesin the GEO technical committees or important task mee-tings.

All national institutions that use or require Earthobservation information to fulfil their tasks should clear-ly formulate their requirements to be met by nationaland international Earth observation systems and stron-gly advocate these requirements – either directly or viaan appropriate coordination body – in the further deve-lopment of relevant systems. The GCOS ClimateMonitoring Principles are an example of such a formula-tion and should be strictly observed at national level.

The most fundamental task with regard to the obser-vation infrastructure at national level is safeguarding thelong-term availability of the observation systems. Giventhat the responsibilities are distributed across variousministries and levels of government (federal govern-ment, federal states, local authorities), this is a relativelycomplex feat. However, it is time to think about a natio-nal strategy taking into account the heterogeneousresponsibilities – not only with regard to GEOSS. One opti-on might be to establish a national Earth observationcoordination body to coordinate the demand and thedevelopment of Earth observation systems in Germany.

Such a coordination body should work in close collabora-tion with the national GEO Secretariat, unless the tasksare consolidated in one single institution (e.g. by expan-ding the mandate of the D-GEO Secretariat).At European level, Germany has to bring its influence tobear with regard to the long-term development of theGMES programme and the EUMETSAT satellite program-mes.

Regarding the development of the national geodatainfrastructure GDI-DE, special attention should be paidto its completeness. In particular the technical and insti-tutional obstacles to the integration of the remote satelli-te sensing data bases have to be cleared. Here, theGerman Remote Sensing Data Center should take theinitiative and prepare a proposal to that effect to the GDI-DE Steering Committee.

In order to realize the largely unrestricted and opendata access at national level, which is required not onlyfor GEOSS, appropriate arrangements should be madewhen transposing the INSPIRE-Directive into nationallaw. First, however, a broad discussion and consultationmust be held. This discussion could be initiated by a posi-tion paper of the D-GEO working group.

The D-GEO Secretariat should document the develop-ment and progress of the implementation of GEOSS inGermany in annual progress reports. These reportsshould also be used to update the national GEOSS imple-mentation plan in order to respond to the dynamicallychanging societal requirements and technical develop-ments. In this way, Germany can make an effective con-tribution to the development of the international GEOSSand benefit from its investments in many areas of socie-tal, economic, and political life.

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Published byFederal Ministry of Transport,Building and Urban AffairsEarth Observation DivisionRobert-Schuman-Platz 153175 BonnGermany

Design and LayoutPre-press, Division Z 32 of BMVBS

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UpdateDecember 2007

TextD-GEO working group

[email protected]@dlr.dehttp://www.d-geo.de