The one day Workshop, to be held in San Diego, CA, USA on June 18, 2007, is focused on communications and sensors networks engineering and information transmission for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). It is one of an ongoing series of IEEE-sponsored regional meetings across the globe in support of GEOSS.
Background
The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is a complex system of sensors, communication devices, storage systems, computational and other devices used to observe the Earth and gather the data needed for a better understanding of the Earth’s processes. In addition, GEOSS includes models and processes to create information from the observational data. The 2003 Earth Observations Summit established the objective “to monitor continuously the state of the Earth, to increase understanding of dynamic Earth processes, to enhance prediction of the Earth system, and to further implement our international environmental treaty obligations”.
The GEOSS Implementation Plan states that GEOSS will provide the overall conceptual and organizational framework for integrated global Earth observations to meet user needs. GEOSS will be a “system of systems” consisting of existing and future Earth observation systems, supplementing but not supplanting their own mandates and governance arrangements. It will provide the institutional mechanisms for ensuring the necessary level of coordination, for strengthening and supplementing existing Earth observation systems, and for reinforcing and supporting component systems in carrying out their mandates.
The emphasis of GEOSS is on societal benefits, initially in nine key areas. Sound management of the Earth system, in both its natural and human aspects, requires information that is timely, of known quality, long-term, and global. Interpretation and use of Earth observations requires information on drivers and consequences of change, including geo-referenced socio-economic data and indicators. The nine areas addressed in the implementation plan are:
- Disasters: Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters
- Health: Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well-being
- Energy: Improving management of energy resources
- Climate: Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change
- Water: Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle
- Weather: Improving weather information, forecasting and warning
- Ecosystems: Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal and marine resources
- Agriculture: Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification
- Biodiversity: Understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity
The above societal benefit areas of the Implementation Plan are important for this IEEE GEOSS Workshop, which will focus on implementing elements of the system of systems that is GEOSS.
GEOSS Communications Engineering
Advanced communications systems and related communications and networking technologies are critical to meeting the requirements of GEOSS. Systems that are needed for GEOSS are based on advanced in-situ, airborne and satellite communications for fast data distribution and networking.
GEOSS solutions for communication will be reviewed included existing approaches such as GEONETCast. Special attention will be given to quick response solutions for nature and human induced disasters. Relevant technical activities will include areas such as satellite communications, Ad-Hoc networking, Free-Space Optical communications (FSO), Broadband Wireless Networks, Communications Protocols and Communications Standards. IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc), through its participation in the IEEE Committee on Earth Observation (ICEO), will cooperate with other GEO Members’ and Participating Organizations in their global and regional activities. Examples of these projects include Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES); Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS); GEONETCast. ComSoc will participate in Workshops sponsored or co-sponsored by ICEO, focusing on advanced communications and networking topics. GEOSS related topics will be included in ComSoc’s professional publications and conferences.
About this Workshop
GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) Workshop is a one day event including invited speakers, with both experts in the communications technologies specific to SECON and GEOSS benefitial users experts and will focus on suitable communications and networking techniques supporting response to natural and human-induced disasters and capable of saving lives and properties from unexpected disasters. To facilitate exchange, the workshop will provide an overview of the GEOSS architecture and participants will be encouraged to develop consensus recommendations. Recommendations of the IEEE GEOSS Workshop will be available to the GEO committees formulating GEOSS infrastructure and operations framework. In summary, the workshop is a forum for users to interact with technologists to address the engineering challenges of an enabling system of systems for Earth data and information for the benefit of society.
The workshop will be held in association with Fourth Annual IEEE Communications Society Conference on Sensor, Mesh and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks (SECON 2007), June 18-21, 2007, in San Diego, California, USA. This meeting is merged with the IEEE International Workshop on Wireless Ad-hoc and Sensor Networks (IWWAN).
ABOUT ICEO
At present there are eight IEEE Societies included in ICEO and GEOSS: Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Geosciences & Remote Sensing, Oceanic Engineering, Communications, Computer, Social Implication of Technology, Signal Processing, Education, Systems Council and Sensors council.
The GEOSS 10 Year Implementation Plan is directed by the Group on Earth Observations, an intergovernmental organization comprised of 66 countries, the European Commission, and 45 international organizations. (see http://earthobservations.org/ )
