Abstract

Monitoring the Earth’s environment requires knowledge of the processes and systems which create that environment; this involves developing models of these processes. Earth observation provides the date for the models and this data is essential for a full understanding of the earth and its environment. This presentation reviews the current status of earth observation and gives examples of how the data is providing vital information in such areas as sustainability, agriculture and disaster management. It also looks at how organisations such as the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) are implementing the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and how this is developing to benefit society as a whole. Geospatial information in general is vital for the establishment of GEOSS and in order for this to be accessible and used an infrastructure must be established. Key examples of such infrastructure are spatial data infrastructures to distribute data and common reference systems to ensure easy interoperability. The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) contributes towards GEOSS, particularly in Africa, and particularly in capacity building activities. ISPRS promotes the science of Earth observation and spatial data science internationally through working groups, symposia and conferences.