4.1 Policy
GTOS datasets should be collected, developed and managed to meet the known, inferred and predicted needs of the GTOS user communities
A user needs analysis should precede any major programme of data collection
4.2 Discussion
GTOS aims to supply data and information to a spectrum of users - from scientific researchers to national policy makers. Five global change issues have been defined as priority areas to be addressed. These are:
changes in land quality;
availability of freshwater resources;
loss of biodiversity;
pollution and toxicity;
climate change.
The requirement to identify the needs of the different types of user for each of these issues has been emphasised in the GTOS Plan and will be a continuing process as GTOS develops. There will be new users, new issues, and experience also indicates that users’ requirements change with time. This is a core activity for GTOS.
The results, i.e. the definition of user needs, must drive data collection and information production, and so must address the basic question: what data/information does the user need? Thus the outputs of users needs analyses should include specifications for the information infrastructure including the following:
the datasets required
the analyses to be carried out
the (information) products to be generated.
Looking at user needs for the five priority global change issues will likely point to the need for a number of "core" datasets - those that are fundamental to any assessment or on-going monitoring. It is these core datasets which should be actively assembled, harmonised and integrated, ready for multiple shared use throughout the GTOS partners.
4.3 Actions
ensure analysis of user needs clearly identifies data and information requirements
review outcomes of user needs analyses to identify "core dataset" requirements
