12. Implementation

12.1 Approach

It is generally recognised that resources for GTOS are scarce. Notwithstanding, it is an urgent imperative to take concrete steps towards becoming an operational observing system complementary to GCOS and GOOS. The development of GT-Net and the demonstration projects to be undertaken by participating networks begin to address this need and GT-Net may be viewed as a prototype for GTOS operation. Clearly, GT-Net activities will address data and information management issues. In fact, some are explicitly identified as key GT-Net activities - e.g. defining a policy on data and information access, sharing and exchanging data, and developing a set of standards for metadata. The timing of the development of this Plan and GT-Net presents an opportunity, over the next 1-2 years, to develop and evolve GTOS policies and procedures with practical experience and to confirm their appropriateness in an operational context.

The principles guiding the implementation of the Plan presented here emphasise involving and evolving: that is involving the GT-Net developments, existing centres of expertise in observing terrestrial eco-systems, and other interested parties, and evolving the policies and procedures as on-going experience is gained. Thus the policies, guidelines and practices presented here must be seen as preliminary, subject to further development and augmentation (especially of detail).

12.2 Process

As discussed in Section 3, the GTOS Steering Committee, Secretariat and the JDIMP are established and have been addressing data and information management issues at a conceptual level. It is recognised that a GTOS Panel on Data and Information Management is needed for effective implementation and on-going oversight of practical day-to-day policies responding to the needs of GTOS partners. The DIMP is one of several priority Panels identified by the Steering Committee. A first draft of the composition and Terms of Reference for such a Panel is included in Appendix 2.

Given current GTOS constraints, it is probable that a fully resourced Panel may take several years to be realised. In order to move ahead in light of the "evolve" principle and the need to interact with GT-Net as it develops, it is recommended that as an interim measure, a Working Group consisting of SC members should be established to take the lead for all elements of the initial implementation detailed in this Data and Information Plan. The Group would likely invite participation and input from others, for instance, outside experts from the GTOS Roster and managers of GT-Net Data Centres. This composition is similar to what would be expected of a standing Panel (see Appendix 2). The Working Group would operate for 1-2 years with responsibilities (see below) which would include confirming the composition and terms of reference for its successor Panel, who will then be able to build on and evolve from the initial work.

12.3 Work Program

The overall GTOS Plan catalogues a set of priority actions. The action items listed in the preceding sections of this document are at a more detailed level and are concerned only with the establishment of an infrastructure and system for Data and Information management. These tasks must be undertaken in concert with activities in other areas, recognising that there is overlap. In some cases, considerations of data and information management are the primary focus and driving force whereas in others, they are more subsidiary in nature. The former are dealt with in the first three groups of tasks in the following Table. The specific action items addressed by each task are identified in the second column, along with the section reference. Where draft starting point material has been included in this document, it is indicated in the third column. The fourth task group lists those action items which need co-operative activity.