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IEEE Supports Plan for Global Earth Observation System of Systems
Piscataway, NJ, 9 Feb. -- An IEEE delegation led by President-elect Michael Lightner will join representatives of more than 30 other international organizations, the European Commission and nearly 60 world governments at the third Earth Observation Summit on 16 February in Brussels, Belgium. Participants are committed to adopting the 10-year implementation plan for a comprehensive, coordinated Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
The GEOSS will link millions of established national, regional and international sources and datasets into a single network capable of tracking environmental changes in oceans, earth, atmosphere and ecosystems around the world. This system is expected to yield advances in many areas of benefit to society including disaster reduction, health, energy, climate, weather, water and agriculture, among others.
IEEE has been supporting the development of the GEOSS plan during the past year through its Committee on Earth Observation (CEO), which is composed of members of several of its societies. These include IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems (AESS), IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing,(GRSS), and IEEE Oceanic Engineering (OES) Societies, IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology as well as the IEEE Sensors Council.
According to Lightner, IEEE was invited to participate because of its worldwide membership and global influence. “IEEE brings expertise through its members and societies in a wide range of relevant technologies, in internationally recognized standards development and in a broad base of educational activities. This expertise provides a foundation for the organization’s support of GEOSS and its implementation,” Lightner said
"To be effective, GEOSS needs a strong technical foundation. The IEEE will be proactive in its support for GEOSS and the societal benefits that come from an integrated observation and information system" said IEEE CEO chair and GRSS Advisory Committee member, Jay Pearlman. Dr. Pearlman also will represent IEEE at the Summit, along with Dr. Albin Gasiewski, President of IEEE GRSS and Dr. Rene Garello of IEEE OES.
The Earth Observation Summit in Brussels is the third such event held to bring nations and international organizations together to address ways to improve identification and application of Earth observation strategies and research on a global level. It was preceded by meetings in April 2004 in Tokyo, Japan, and in July 2003 in WashingtonD.C.
With more than 365,000 members in over 150 countries, the IEEE is the world's largest professional society dedicated to the advancement of technology. Through its members, the IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields, and has developed more than 900 active industry standards. The organization also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 international technical conferences each year. Additional information is available at www.ieee.org.
