Facilitating Inter-operability: The data quality assurance strategy of CEOS to address the needs of GEOSS
- Paper number
IAC-08.B1.6.4
- Author
Dr. Nigel Fox, National Physical Laboratory, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Bojan Bojkov, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Changyong Cao, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Gyanesh Chander, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), United States
- Coauthor
Mrs. Marie-Clarie Greening, Greening Consulting, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Gregory L. Stensaas, U.S. Geological Survey, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Pascal Lecomte, European Space Agency (ESA), Italy
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO)’s Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) aims to deliver comprehensive, global “knowledge/information products” in a timely manner to meet the needs of its “societal themes”. This will be achieved through the synergistic use and combination of data derived from many sources (satellite, and in situ) through the coordinated resources and efforts of GEO members.
To accomplish this vision, starting from a system of disparate systems, built for a multitude of applications, requires the establishment of an operational framework to facilitate interoperability and harmonisation. The success of this framework, in terms of “data”, is dependent upon the successful implementation of two key principles: Accessibility/Availability and Suitability/Reliability and the means to efficiently communicate these attributes to all stakeholders.
To enable these principles to be implemented in a harmonised manner, CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites), the space arm of GEOSS, is leading the development of a data quality assurance strategy. This strategy requires CEOS to establish and endorse, under the auspices of GEO, a set of operational guidelines based on the adoption of “best practises” for implementation by the agencies.
The guidelines can, be structured into an operational framework based on key generic interoperability requirements. These “interoperability themes” will, be subject to further “sub-division/grouping” to aid organisation/access and, ultimately, usability. Although each theme and its sub-themes should be able to establish appropriate “guidelines” in a self-contained manner, they must a priori address the needs and/or guidelines established within the other themes. The themes are: Communication and Education, Data Policy and Data Quality.
This paper focuses on the primary theme, “Data Quality”, and its guiding principle:
“ All data products must have associated with them a “Quality indicator” (QI) based on documented quantitative assessment of its traceability to internationally agreed reference standards”.
This requires all steps in the data product delivery chain (collection, processingdelivery) to be documented with evidence of their traceability from sensor-build to end-of-life.
The philosophy underpinning this data QA strategy, together with activities underway to establish the infrastructure and reference standards needed for its implementation, will be discussed. These include dedicated “test sites”, endorsed guidelines and procedures, and the evidence necessary to facilitate governance of the system in the international arena.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B1.6.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.