The Standards and Interoperability Forum

1. The Standards and Interoperability Forum S.J.S. Khalsa IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society

2. ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

3. Strawman: A Process for Reaching GEOSS Interoperability Arrangements • A Standards and Interoperability Forum (SIF) will be created • To carry out impartial review and to recommend solutions to GEO interoperability issues. • Membership in the SIF will be open to any GEO member or Contributing Organization. • The process is to be initiated by those who are attempting to implement a particular GEO Task. ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

4. Guiding Principles of the SIF • The SIF will encourage broader use of existing standards as one factor in recommending interoperability arrangements. • The SIF will consider existing international standards organizations and institutes as a focal point for the GEOSS interoperability objectives. • In rare cases where no existing standard fulfills GEOSS needs, the SIF could identify appropriate Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) to carry out the standards development process. ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

5. A Process for Reaching GEOSS Interoperability Arrangements Present interoperability issue Requests input Experts, SDOs, Community Recommendation Input provided Accept or Reject Register the recommendations, if “accepted” Register the issues as “under review” Study for possible existing solutions References Entered in Established Standards Specifications “Initially Identified Systems” and underlying GEOSS standards SIF GEO tasks GEO interoperability registry ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

6. SIF - Outstanding Issues • Contents of Interoperability Registry • Initial “arrangements” mentioned in 10-yr Implementation Plan Ref. Doc., e.g. ISO 19115? • Protocols adhered to by “initially identified systems” that would be available to other GEOSS components? • Or should it be only those “arrangements” agreed to as part of the “Process” in which specific interoperability issues are resolved? • "All interface implementations should be ... verified through interoperability testing and public demonstrations." [Reference Document] • Does this apply to all interoperability arrangements? • Who certifies compliance? ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

7. IEEE CEO Standards Working Group • Working background on standards issues for GEO since May 2005 • Will serve as consultative body for the SIF • Completing 3 tasks: • Compilation EO portals • Survey of standards in use by EO systems • Characteristics of SDOs ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

8. ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

9. Standards In Use Survey • Question 1: Data Formats • Question 2: Metadata Standards • Question 3: Catalog Interoperability Standards • Question 4: OGC Standards • Question 5: Data Acquisition Standards • Question 6: Archival Standards • Question 7: Interoperability • Each Question also asks: What factors did your organization consider in choosing these standards? ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

10. SDO Characterization • Scope of technical activities • Who may participate? • Scope of participation - National, Regional, International • Requirements for initiating a new project • Process for approval of new project • How leaders are appointed or elected • Who may provide proposals or contributions for the standard? • Process for development of consensus • Timeframes for development of a standard • Who may vote (ballot) • Process for approval of the standard • maintenance procedures, review, revision, and reaffirmation • Availability of standard (cost, access, etc.) ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

11. SDOs Characterized by ISWG • ISO • IEEE • W3C • OGC ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006

12. Future Activities • Based on Portal Survey, suggest models for GEOSS Portal to DA-06-07. • Make “Standards in Use” survey available via the Web. • Publish SDO characterization on the Web. • Recommend initial content for Interoperability Registry. ADC Co-Chair Meeting 19 July 2006