Linking Earth Sciences and GEOSS: The role of the GEOSS User Requirement Registry (URR)

Abstract/Agenda:

The User Requirement Registry (URR) of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) is being developed as a versatile tool for the publishing of information on User Types, Applications, Observational and Information Requirements, Research Needs, Infrastructure Needs, Technology Needs, and Capacity Building Needs. Links can be described between any of the entries in these tables, in order to capture the inter-dependencies along the value chains from observations through value-adding applications down to the end users. A prototype of the URR was implemented in 2010 and further improved in 2011. In 2012, the finalization of the URR and the integration in the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) is planned.

The workshop will introduce the current URR and discuss the role of Earth scientists in the population of the URR with science and research related information. The plan for the final URR will be presented and a discussion will provide ample opportunity for participants to provide feedback on the URR plans. In particular, the URR should provide a communication tool for a dialog between ESIP and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) concerning Earth science's observational needs and contributions to Earth observations.

The workshop ""Building a User-Driven GEOSS: Methods to Capture, Analyze, and Prioritize User Needs,"" held on April 10, 2010 in Sydney, Australia, developed a number of recommendations (see http://www.geo-tasks.org/workshops/2011_Sydney/ws_report.php), and those recommendations relevant for ESIP will be discussed. We will present three examples in more details. The case of air quality monitoring and predicting will be used to illustrate the complexity of user types, applications, and requirements associated with this interdisciplinary field. The cases of disaster risk reduction highlights the relevance of research and infrastructure needs necessary to enable applications in this area. Integrated coastal zone management will be used to demonstrate a top-down analysis of the various needs in a field.

Notes:

Key Topics

URR Data Model
- Multiple registries driven by user needs
- Links - capturing interconnectivity
  - Links can allow value chains
- Analysis goals for data tracing
- If data is registered with GEOSS, users can find it through this registry
  - Connecting data users and providers, even if they are unaware of each others' needs
- End of 2012 target goal for functionality, design, and administration
  - Menus, logins, customizing, GUI, gap analysis
  - Concept of Operations describes future development path
    - Comments/suggestions welcome

Populating the URR
- Assessment reports
- Open peer contributions
- Harvesting existing registries

Getting involved with URR
- What do you do? What are your important activities?
- What decision-making are you involved in, and what are the impacts of these decisions?
  - Can you measure the impact of these decisions? The impact of different data on these decisions?

Getting started
- Create login
  - Jump right in or read tutorials?
- Publish menu item -> User Types
  - Do you fit into one of these types?
    - Click on one of them, and you'll have pre-filled in descriptions of your type that you can tweak if needed
- Application menu item
  - Do you fit into one of these types?
    - Click on one of them, and you'll have pre-filled in descriptions of your type that you can tweak if needed
- Etc. for the rest of the options
- Can connect data requirements to people with data via links
- View menu option -> Links
  - Pick a Link, click on the blue 'link'
  - Click the yellow 'View Relationship' button
    - Visual map of the relationships between user type, data, applications, research, infrastructure, etc.
      - Drag to move and order nodes

Current/Future Development
- Level selection, depth, enhanced GUI in the works.
- Namespace formatting, (meta)data review
- Global and local trees for organization based on user expertise

Linking Earth Sciences and GEOSS: The role of the GEOSS User Requirement Registry (URR)

Key Topics

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