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Remote-sensing community embraces GEOSS at ISRSE-33
The Northern Italian city of Stresa welcomed the world’s remote-sensing community to the 33rd International Symposium of the Remote Sensing of the Environment (ISRSE-33) from 4 to 8 May. The event highlighted the increasingly strong commitment that space agencies and other remote-sensing organizations have to the successful implementation of GEOSS.
Jointly organized by the International Centre for Remote Sensing of the Environment and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, the five-day Symposium attracted over 800 international participants, addressed 13 thematic areas through numerous scientific papers and posters, held five pre-symposium workshops and seven special sessions, and hosted approximately 30 exhibits. In addition, GEO’s User Interface, Science and Technology, and Architecture and Data Committees held meetings in the margins of the Symposium.
GEOSS and its implementation permeated the discussions. In particular, GEO’s work on data-sharing principles that promote the free, open and timely access to Earth observation data emerged as a key focus. Many participants also stressed the urgent need for coordinated and interoperable Earth observation systems and for an effective GEOSS Common Infrastructure. The GEO portal providers were present at the ISRSE Exhibition and were able to demonstrate the progress they have made so far.
The final Plenary session of ISRSE-33 discussed the importance of engaging the private sector and civil society in using Earth observations. GEO was identified as a possible vehicle for developing private-public partnerships (PPP).
During a special session on global and regional programs for building observation capacity in Africa, participants emphasized the need to engage Africa and other regions of the developing world more fully in GEOSS. GEO’s coordinating role in this regard was recognized.
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