EGIDA was a technical project to create a standard methodology to support GEOSS, the Global Earth Observations System of Systems, through development of evaluation processes, assessment indexes, and databases.
Overview
To function efficiently, the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) requires a standardized methodology for all users.
EGIDA aimed to improve the creation and management of science and technology infrastructures–everything from sensors to environmental modeling programs—to ensure that GEOSS is supported by the best science possible.
Some of the new methodology from EGIDA was transferred to research organizations in the Balkan and Mediterranean regions to determine if it can successfully link those organizations to GEOSS.
GEOSS is a 10-year program to build a worldwide observation system of interlinked Earth observation systems—a system of systems. When completed, it is expected to contribute enormous amounts of observational data in nine “societal benefit areas” including disasters, health, energy, climate, water, weather, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity. GEOSS should provide a much clearer picture of the Earth’s systems and how they are changing.
The efforts to build GEOSS are coordinated by GEO, the Group on Earth Observations, a partnership of governments and international organizations that provides a framework for developing GEOSS.
IIASA Research
As part of the project IIASA researchers identified relevant science and technology communities without significant links to GEO or GEOSS. The researchers also proposed a GEOSS data citation standard consistent with the emerging international consensus on data citation.