International Geospatial Activities

Dr. Neil D. Weston

Deputy DirectorNational Geodetic Survey, NOS, NOAA

Geospatial Summit, April 13-14, 2015

Outline

International Association of Geodesy IAG

United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management UN-GGIM

International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems ICG

US Group on Earth Observations USGEO

International Association of Geodesy

Commission 1: Reference Frames

Definitions, establishments, maintenance, and improvements of geodetic reference frames

Advance terrestrial and space observation techniques

International collaboration for deployment of geodetic networks

International Association of Geodesy

Commission 1: Reference Frames

Collaboration with international services and geodetic agencies on space geodesy and reference frames

Maintain / improve a reference frame that is important for global change studies

International Association of Geodesy

Reference Frames for Applications in Geosciences

Theory and ConceptsMeasurement accuracyStation position time variations

Geodetic Measurement TechniquesSLR, VLBI, Doris, GNSSStrengths and weaknessesGeophysical model limitations

International Association of Geodesy

Reference Frames for Applications in Geosciences

Regional Reference FramesRole of sub-global reference framesCoordinating national and regional efforts

Reference Frames in GeoscienceSocietal needsScientific goals

United Nations-Global Geospatial Information Management

Aims and Objectives of UN-GGIM

Development of a global geodetic reference frame

Development of a global map for sustainable development

Geospatial information to support development

Develop a knowledge base for geospatial data

United Nations-Global Geospatial Information Management

Aims and Objectives of UN-GGIM

Creation and adoption of standards for geospatial community

Legal and policy frameworks for critical data; privacy

Identify fundamental data sets and corresponding metadata

Define principles on managing geospatial information

United Nations-Global Geospatial Information Management

United Nations General Assembly

Adopted first resolution recognizing the importance of a

globally-coordinated approach to geodesy

Resolution – “A Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development”

United Nations-Global Geospatial Information Management

United Nations General Assembly

Co-sponsored by 52 Member States

Supports sustainable development, policymaking, climate change monitoring, natural disaster management

Will enable a wide range of applications - transportation, agriculture and construction

International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Working Group A

Compatibility and Interoperability

Working Group B Enhancing Performance of GNSS Services

Working Group C Information Dissemination and Capacity Building

Working Group D Reference Frames, Timing and Applications

U.S. Group on Earth ObservationsCoordinate, plan and assess Federal Earth observation activities

Billions spent on Earth observations systems

Federal, State and local governments involved

Sensor SystemsCollect data to monitor environment and Earth systems

DataContribute to models, simulations and information products

Examples Climate & weather, disasters, land-use change, ecosystem health

Thank you

Neil Weston301-713-3222