Reported by Lerato Senoko 29 th EXCOM: 31 October 2013

1. Task ID_01 “Advancing GEOSS Data Sharing Principles”The Group on Earth Observations Data Sharing Activities for 2013 Reported byLerato Senoko 29th EXCOM: 31 October 2013

2. Objective The Executive Committee is requested to: • Note the progress made by the Data Sharing Working Group to date; • Encourage all GEO members and participating organisationsto continue to work with and participate in the Data Sharing Working Group.

3. Action Plan • DSWG has about 20 members with representation from Europe, USA and Africa • To achieve the implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles, activities are realised through the four DSWG subgroups;- • GEOSS Data Core and GCI • Legal interoperability • Data Documentation and Quality • Capacity Building • Post 2015 working group contribution

4. GCI and GEOSS Data Core sub-group • During 2013 work on developing, populating and implementing the GEOSS DataCORE has continued and now more than 1,2 million GEOSS DataCOREresources can be discovered through the GCI (only a few thousands one year ago!) • The sub-group has started to liaise with the GEO Secretariat in contacting the GEO Members and a new reminder was sent in August (only with three responses so far!) • Survey in Spring 2013 carried out by JRC shows that much more work is still needed to raise the awareness of the GEOSS DataCOREwithin the GEO Community (see presentation in item 3.4)

5. GCI and GEOSS Data Core continued • As a result of AIP-6 activities, in two weeks we will be ready to begin testing whether the GCI can successfully find the current licensing metadata and make it available to GEOSS users. A call for data providers to assist us in this effort has already been issued. • Also within AIP-6 we are starting to review the list of use metrics information to be collected agreed by the DSWG last year. In this context, it would be very valuable to understand how many users can access GEOSS DataCORE data as well as tracking the reuse of GEOSS data.

6. Legal Interoperability sub-group • Revising the background white paper • Compiling list of recommended open access licence and waivers • White paper to be presented to Plenary • Finalising review paper on existing approaches for the interpretations of “full and open access” • Produce educational material on open licenses and waivers for data providers and users

7. Documentation and Data Quality sub-group • Data quality guidelines completed • Guidelines to be exposed to data providers • Engaging with CEOS improved work and gained membership • Further work to be done on • the GEO label • Amplification of documentation procedure • Support to standards useful for data set documentation

8. Capacity Building sub-group • Support member states that need to; • establish national coordinating mechanisms • Develop flexible policy framework • Promote the benefits of full and open access to data. • Identify lessons learnt or best practices from other member states • Developing a questionnaire that investigates the barriers that hinders data sharing

9. Post 2015 working group contributions • Possible restatement of data sharing principles; • Strengthening the evaluation of the progress of GEO data sharing; • Emphasizing reference data sets and interoperability; • Consideration of new data sharing issues arising from new emergent observation systems; • Developing a Strategy of Education and Communication of Earth Observations in the World (SECEOW).

10. Conclusion • Overall implementation of GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan is making progress • DSGW extended its activities to address all its objectives • Additional resources needed from developing countries • Planning a side even during the upcoming Plenary and Ministerial week • Appreciate the involvement of the secretariat in its work