This Community of Practice (CoP) is dedicated to promoting current efforts and activities aimed at the integration, harmonisation, interoperability, and dissemination of data, derived products, services, and decision-support systems through the utilisation of relevant data infrastructures. It also promotes data governance and develops general principles to facilitate and enhance access to, and uptake of, Earth observation data and information by a wide range of user communities in a coherent manner.
The CoP further provides guidance and best practices on standards such as data openness, transparency, stakeholder engagement, and intellectual property rights (IPR).
Key activities include:
- Facilitating activities that support the operationalisation, promotion, and implementation of infrastructure initiatives;
- Establishing joint activities to develop an operational data discovery and access system for Earth observation data;
- Enabling access to international Earth observation data and engagement with the Earth observation infrastructure community;
- Coordinating discussions on best practices and standards for Earth observation data sharing and accessibility;
- Contributing to data-sharing-related initiatives;
- Advocating for the adoption of a framework for full and open access to data, to be addressed in the implementation of the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS);
- Encouraging relevant scientists and technical experts to contribute to the development of the South African Earth Observation System of Systems (SAEOSS);
- Identifying existing approaches to interpreting full and open access to geographic data; and
- Investigating international policies and norms related to data access.
