BRIEFLY ABOUT THE GGOS

Introduction

"Surveying - A team of surveyors in the country" Source: C. C. Long Home Geography for Primary Grades (New York: American Book Company, 1894),22 (*)

The Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (MLRO) at the Space Geodesy Center "G. Colombo", Matera, Italy (2010)

Introduction, Science Rationale, and Leaflets

GGOS is the Observing System of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). GGOS was established by IAG in July 2003. Since April 2004, GGOS represents IAG in the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) and GGOS is IAG's contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The international cooperation fostered by IAG has led to the establishment of the IAG Services, that provide increasingly valuable observations and products not only to scientist but also for a wide range of non-scientific applications. Considering this development in geodesy, the requirements of Earth observations, and the increasing societal needs, IAG initially created GGOS as an IAG Project during the IUGG meeting in 2003 in Sapporo, Japan.

After the first two years devoted to the definition of the internal organizational structure of GGOS and its relationship with external organizations (the "Design Phase"), the Executive Committee of the IAG at its meetings in August 2005 in Cairns, Australia, decided to continue the Project.

In the "Implementation Phase" from 2005 to 2007, the GGOS Steering Committee, Executive Committee, Science Panel, Working Groups, and Web Pages were established, and the Terms of Reference were revised.

Finally, at the IUGG meeting in 2007 in Perugia, Italy, IAG elevated GGOS to the status of a full component of IAG as the permanent observing system of IAG.

During 2009 -2011, revisions to the structure of GGOS were discussed leading to the new Terms of Reference.

In 2014 the GGOS Strategic plan has been redefined.

The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS)

GGOS is the Observing System of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG).

GGOS works with the IAG components to provide the geodetic infrastructure necessary for monitoring the Earth system and for global change research. It provides observations of the three fundamental geodetic observables and their variations, that is, the Earth's shape, the Earth's gravity field and the Earth's rotational motion.

GGOS integrates different geodetic techniques, different models, different approaches in order to ensure a long-term, precise monitoring of the geodetic observables in agreement with the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS).

GGOS provides the observational basis to maintain a stable, accurate and global reference frame and in this function is crucial for all Earth observation and many practical applications.

GGOS contributes to the emerging Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) not only with the accurate reference frame required for many components of GEOSS but also with observations related to the global hydrological cycle, the dynamics of atmosphere and oceans, and natural hazards and disasters.

GGOS acts as the interface between the geodetic services and external users such as the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) and United Nations authorities. A major goal is to ensure the interoperability of the services and GEOSS. With this the geodetic community can provide the global geosciences community with a powerful tool consisting mainly of high quality services, standards and references, and of theoretical and observational innovations.

The GGOS Portal will provide a unique access point to all geodetic products. Thus, the Portal will emphasize Geodesy´s contribution to Earth Observation for assessing geohazards and reducing disaster. The Portal consists of the GGOS Web site and the portal itself, comprising geoportal components like a clearinghouse, a map viewer, and a metadata editor. The GGOS Portal is currently under development. 

GGOS

The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) is being promoted as the ‘flagship’ of IAG
and that it will have an even greater impact in the future of geodesy.
As reported in the preface of the GGOS strategic plan from the IAG President, Chris Rizos:
"As the observing system of the IAG, GGOS serves a unique and critically important combination of roles centering upon advocacy, integration, and international relations. GGOS also promotes high-level outcomes such as the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame through a variety of internal and external channels.
The IAG relies upon GGOS to advocate for improvements in the ground-based geodetic infrastructure of GNSS and DORIS reference stations, VLBI and SLR space geodetic stations, and gravity observatories; it also supports the development of new satellite missions for altimetry, gravity mapping and earth observation; and promotes the importance of modern geodesy for addressing the needs of science and society for stable spatial, time, and gravimetric reference frames. GGOS focuses attention on how international geodesy needs to evolve in order to deliver an order of magnitude improvement in the quality of its fundamental products – this includes identifying the critical elements of global physical infrastructure, efficient data management, and combined measurement analysis.
GGOS internally integrates the geometric and gravimetric aspects of geodesy – driving continuous improvement in the quality of geodetic products through increased investment in different geodetic techniques. It also provides a framework within which the IAG services andother IAG components can integrate outputs and generate higher-level products. GGOS has a unique mission, and is unlike any IAG component in that it is not a service, but rather an observing system that integrates IAG services and commissions. GGOS cannot function without the facilities and products of each of the IAG services." GGOS has also published a book called “GGOS 2020” which articulates the above and gives
the current status of geodesy and visions for the contribution of GGOS to the community.

 

Mission We live on a dynamic planet in constant motion that requires long-term continuous quantification of its changes in a truly stable frame of reference. GGOS and its related research and services will address the relevant science issues related to geodesy and geodynamics in the 21st century, but also issues relevant to society (global risk management, geohazards, natural resources, climate change, severe storm forecasting, sea level estimations and ocean forecasting, space weather, and others). It is an ambitious program of a dimension that goes beyond IAG, requiring a strong cooperation within the geodetic, geodynamic and geophysical communities, and externally, to related endeavors and communities. GGOS will provide this integration at the highest level, in service to the scientific community and as well as society as a whole. In summary, the mission of GGOS is: To provide the observations needed to monitor, map, and understand changes in the Earth’s shape, rotation, and mass distribution; To provide the global geodetic frame of reference that is the fundamental backbone for measuring and consistently interpreting key global change processes and for many other scientific and societal applications; To benefit science and society by providing the foundation upon which advances in Earth and planetary system science and applications are built. You can find here the GGOS Strategic Plan