Satellites enabling the Global Earth Observation System of Systems GEOSS

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Satellites enabling the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS)

• Michael Inggs, Department of Electrical
  Engineering,
• University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch
  7701
• Mike.Inggs_at_uct.ac.za

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Background

The GEO was formally established at the Third
Earth Observation Summit in February 2005 to
carry out the GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan.
Prior to its formal establishment, the Ad Hoc GEO
(established at the First Earth Observation
Summit in July 2003) met as a planning body to
develop the GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan..
In fact, the process started at the 2002
Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development, triggering the action at the next
summit, in 2003. The United States, South
African, Chinese and European members serve as
co-chairs of the GEO Plenary and the GEO
Executive Committee.
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The role of Satellite Technology in Remote Sensing

• Early history.
• The move to space.
• Issues around data volumes.
• Convenient distribution from remote terrestrial
  sites.
• Subtle pressure from the media concerning most
  transgressions of pollution rules.

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Sensors

• Optical
• Radar/Microwave
• Gravity
• Navigation
• Communications

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Optical

• Growth in spatial resolution.
• Resolution in Wavelength resolution and range.
• Downlink capabilities
• Problems with cloud cover
• Weather
• The tyranny of orbits and daily coverage.

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Radar and Microwave

• All weather, day/night
• Active and passive.
• Growth in resolution.
• Millimetric slant range change detection
  capability.
• Scatterometers and the ocean wind and waves.

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Gravity

• Orbital perturbations.
• Better knowledge of the earth's spheriod.

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Navigation

• Transit
• GPS constellation
• GLONASS
• Galileo
• Importance for
• data gathering
• location

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Communications

• Disaster coordination and warning systems.
• Remote data collection.
• Downlinks.
• Media and environmental awareness

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GEOSS Rationale

• Huge cost of national remote sensing programmes.
• Realisation we all travel on the same spaceship.
• Huge volumes of underutilised data.
• Duplication.
• The properties of a system are always greater
  than the sum of the parts.

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GEOSS Tasks

• Disasters Reducing loss of life and property
  from natural and human-induced disasters.
• Health Understanding environmental factors
  affecting human health and well-being.
• Energy Improving management of energy resources.
• Climate Understanding, assessing, predicting,
  mitigating, and adapting to climate variability
  and change.
• Water Improving water-resource management
  through better understanding of the water cycle.

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GEOSS Tasks (2)

• Weather Improving weather information,
  forecasting and warning.
• Ecosystems Improving the management and
  protection of terrestrial, coastal and marine
  resources.
• Agriculture Supporting sustainable agriculture
  and combating desertification.
• Biodiversity Understanding, monitoring and
  conserving biodiversity.
• User Engagement.

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Conclusions

• Probably the largest Science and Engineering
  project of all time.
• Good example of international cooperation across
  the economic spectrum.
• Thorough planning.
• South Africa has an influential role.