Data and Knowledge Working Group

Data and Knowledge Working Group

About

The Data Working Group (Data-WG) is convened to work with the GEO community and external stakeholders to address data policy, data ethics and data governance issues impacting the use of Earth observations. This collaborative effort aims to enhance the uptake of Earth observations for decision making.

In this way, we support the translation of the Canberra Declaration into concrete actions within the GEO Work Programme.

WHAT WE DO

  • Іdentifying best practices for addressing legal, ethical, privacy, intellectual property, and other concerns related to Earth observations data sharing and management
  • Promoting the global adoption and implementation of GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and GEOSS Data Management Principles
  • Advancing the interoperability of Earth observations and complementary data as well as facilitating discussions with stakeholder communities on data-related topics

Governance

Four co-chairs are elected by and from the Data-WG members. These co-chairs represent a balance of gender, geography, and generation.

Co-Chair

Subgroups

Are established to run the work of the Data and Knowledge Working Group:

  • SG1: GEO Data Working Subgroup - Data Sharing / Management

    Societal benefits arising from Earth observations can only be fully achieved through the sharing of data, information, knowledge, products and services. Since its inception in 2005, GEO has been instrumental in advocating and expanding full and open access to EO data worldwide.

    In 2015, GEO adopted a series of universal Data Management Principles, whose implementation by the broader community will ensure that open data is discoverable, usable, accessible and preserved for integrated use across communities for scientific understanding, sound decision making and market development.

    SG3 is focused on:

    • Producing trend analyses and recommendations for revising the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and the GEOSS Data Management Principles and Implementation Guidelines;
    • Continuous promotion of the the adoption and implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and the GEOSS Data Management Principles globally;
    • Recommending ways for GEO to advance the interoperability of Earth observations and complementary data, products and services.
  • SG2: GEO Data Working Subgroup - In Situ

    The aims and activities of SG4 are focused on and seek to engage with in-situ data providers. It also works closely with the wider GEO community and other relevant standards organisations to achieve greater coordination among in-situ data communities and gain a better understanding of the requirements of in-situ data users.

    The key focus areas include:

    • Promoting Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable (FAIR) and open data;
    • Encouraging good data management practices, including encouraging use of trusted and sustainable repositories and attribution through use of digital object identifiers;
    • Defining and promoting interoperable data management strategies and other relevant standards for in-situ data and associated metadata;
    • Demonstrating and communicating the importance of in-situ data through the GEO Knowledge Hub and other relevant channels;
    • Identifying the main challenges and barriers hindering efficient use of in-situ data, and seeking potential solutions for overcoming them;
    • Justifying the need for continued and sustainable funding of in-situ data gathering, observing networks, and similar capabilities;
    • Collaborating with the GEO regional initiatives to support capacity building for in-situ data management.
  • SG3: GEO Data Working Subgroup - Ethics

    SG1 is focused on thorough examination of possible challenges related to ethical collection, ownership, storage, distribution, and use of Earth observation data. By proactively addressing the ethical concerns associated with providing Earth observation data, we can develop more effective approaches for adapting to and mitigating climate change.

  • SG4: GEO Data Working Subgroup - Law Policy

    As more organisations combine open datasets to utilise technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, they face challenges related to the legal aspects of merging datasets with different licence terms. This issue, known as "legal interoperability," arises because the legal frameworks governing data have not kept pace with the rapid advancements in data transformation and integration.

    SG2 is focused on exploring possible instruments for balancing open access with other important considerations such as privacy and indigenous data sovereignty with the aim to make as much Earth observations data open as possible.

    The subgroup's activities are aimed at achieving the following goals:

    • Users spend less time and resources dealing with data access and usage rights, and legally use the best available data for their application with maximum flexibility and minimal restriction;
    • Data providers are more willing to share data openly and spend less time and resources creating and negotiating custom EULAs for their data;
    • Data systems implement legal interoperability functions seamlessly with their data dissemination, access, transformation, integration, and analysis functions, helping to ensure appropriate use and implementation of conditions (including attribution and registration), reducing time delays, and improving traceability;
    • Rapid integration of data of different types from diverse public and private sources increases due to reduction in legal barriers and uncertainties.

Members

Name Affiliation WG
No Photo
Italy Member
No Photo
Zimbabwe Member
Antonello Provenzale
Italy Member
No Photo
India Member
No Photo
South Africa Member
Carolina Adler
MRI Member
No Photo
EEA Member
No Photo
Germany Member
Chuang Liu
China Member
Claudio Rossi
Italy Member
No Photo
United States Member
No Photo
GEANT Member
Derek Hanson
United States Member
Don Sullivan
United States Member
No Photo
United States Member
No Photo
Canada Member
No Photo
Italy Member
No Photo
Korea, Republic of Member
Evangelos Gerasopoulos
Greece Member
No Photo
GEO Secretariat Member
No Photo
IAEA Member
Gilberto Camara
INPE Member
No Photo
Sweden Member
No Photo
Canada Member
Helen Glaves
ICOS Member
No Photo
RCZ Member
No Photo
China Co-Chair
No Photo
ISNET Member
Ivan Petiteville
ESA Member
James Thornton
MRI Member
Jean-Philippe Aurambout
EEA Member
No Photo
China Member
Joan Masó
Spain Member
No Photo
United States Member
No Photo
Australia Member
Joost Van Bemmelen
ESA Member
Jose Rubio Iglesias
EEA Member
No Photo
GEO Secretariat Member
Karel Charvat
Plan4all Member
Karl Benedict
ESIP Member
Krystal Azelton
SWF Member
Lea Shanley
United States Member
No Photo
South Africa Member
Lionel Menard
France Member
Madeeha Bajwa
GEO Secretariat GEO Sec for Info
Maria del Pilar Cornejo Rodriguez
Ecuador Member
Marie-Francoise Voidrot
OGC Member
No Photo
United States Member
No Photo
Ecuador Member
No Photo
Italy Member
No Photo
Member
Nura Jibo
ACCREC Member
Orestis Speyer
Greece Member
No Photo
EPOS Member
Paola De Salvo
GEO Secretariat GEO Sec Rep
Paolo Mazzetti
Italy Member
No Photo
IAEA Member
No Photo
ISNET/SUPARCO Member
Rabia Said
ACCREC Member
No Photo
ACCREC Member
No Photo
Germany Member
Robert Downs
WDS Co-Chair
No Photo
GODAN Member
No Photo
Zimbabwe Member
No Photo
United States Member
No Photo
Member
Wenbo Chu
GEO Secretariat Member
No Photo
Ecuador Member
Yana Gevorgyan
GEO Secretariat GEO Sec for Info
No Photo
FAO Member

Documents & Resources

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference will remain in effect for the period of the 2023-2025 GEO Work Programme. It may be revised with the approval of the Programme Board.

Roadmap and subgroup work plans

A Roadmap is proposed to guide the work of the Data-WG and prioritize action based on the approved Terms of Reference. The Roadmap also outlines the way members engage and contribute to the objectives of the Data-WG. It contains priority deliverables, milestones and the working timeline, as well as the work plan of each subgroup. While the Data-WG activities are outlined for the 2020-2022 period, some have an ongoing nature and are intended to be continued beyond the first term.

Other Documents

Collaboration

Individuals interested in joining a WG must be nominated by the GEO Principal of their relevant GEO Member, Participating Organization, or by a GEO Work Programme activity lead. As appropriate, the Programme Board may also invite other qualified individuals to participate as members.

Contacts

For more information about the Data and Knowledge Working Group please contact us