Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative

The GEOSS ten-year implementation plan is a document produced to support comprehensive and sustained earth observation data, decision-making to support the public interest, and scientific and political agreements. The plan emphasizes the need to maintain a high level of momentum in execution, the desire to gain increased understanding from the fusion and integration of earth observation data, and the goal of providing early information essential for sound decision making. It is essential to highlight the value of this proposal in generating visible and practical advancements to the public interest. For this purpose, beyond merely accumulating results from previous research studies, a goal-oriented strategy is preferred; a strategy which results in the availability of additional effective research resources beneficial both domestically and abroad, with the target of incrementally improving data system functionality and encouraging application in the sphere of global social welfare.

The plan has been divided into two five-year phases, with the first phase (2006-2010)being focused on the development of a prototype, and suggestions and improvements of the implementation proposal, and the second phase (2011-2015) being focused on extending the prototype into common use and on extension of capabilities.

In regards to the first phase, the key implementation goals are:

1. Pacesetting development of the integrated fusion core system
2. Development of an ontology registry system
3. Development of the advanced technology for application of integrated fusion techniques
   

In parallel with this development, the deployment of data services is being implemented in collaboration with relevant organizations in their respective fields, which will motivate improvements and advancements to the data integration and fusion system during the second five-year term.