548
R.A. Longhorn
telecommunications technologies which now make it possible to systematically collect,
organise, analyse, and share earth observation data with tremendous speed and from
hundreds of locations, simultaneously.
Earthmap is organized around 17 major actions, three of which are of
relevance to the CZM/marine research community. These are:
establish an Internet-based information sharing network of geospatial
applications
support and help coordinate international efforts to develop world-wide
geospatial metadata and data standards, and promote improved management
of large geospatial databases
work with other national and international agencies to develop a
comprehensive and continually updated inventory of digitised geospatial data
Earthmap activities are divided into ten areas of sustainable development, of
which CZM and marine research figure only slightly in Area A - Natural Resources
Management (why not more CZM here, you ask?) and strongly in Area B -
Environmental Monitoring (monitoring oceans, reefs, and coastal zones). In this latter
area, mention is made of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and of the
International Coral Reef Initiatives under the Coastal Zone Module of GOOS, under
which initiative the World Conservation Monitoring Center is digitising existing maps
of the world’s reefs. The problems of data management and use are highlighted by the
statement that “in just two minutes, a satellite can collect phytoplankton data for an
area the size of Texas and New Mexico, which would have previously taken a ship an
entire decade (to collect)”.
International Initiatives/Programmes in Relation to the GSDI Discussion
Numerous global initiatives exist which include elements of CZM and marine research
and which should be part of the GSDI discussions. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) is involved in a series of major initiatives springing from the 1992
Rio Conference. The Baltic Sea programme underway at UNEP-GRID is a typical
example of such work. Other UN organisations involved in marine or coastal research,
training or education include UNESCO, the WMO - World Meteorological Office,
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organisation, UNIDO - UN Industrial Development
Organisation, IMO - International Maritime Organisation and more.
Unfortunately for the CZM and marine research community, there were no
representatives of these major environmental or ocean-related organisations or
initiatives in attendance at the GSDI meeting in Bonn in September 1996. The needs
of this large and growing community were brought to the attention of those attending
the second GSDI meeting in October 1997.
R.A. Longhorn
telecommunications technologies which now make it possible to systematically collect,
organise, analyse, and share earth observation data with tremendous speed and from
hundreds of locations, simultaneously.
Earthmap is organized around 17 major actions, three of which are of
relevance to the CZM/marine research community. These are:
establish an Internet-based information sharing network of geospatial
applications
support and help coordinate international efforts to develop world-wide
geospatial metadata and data standards, and promote improved management
of large geospatial databases
work with other national and international agencies to develop a
comprehensive and continually updated inventory of digitised geospatial data
Earthmap activities are divided into ten areas of sustainable development, of
which CZM and marine research figure only slightly in Area A - Natural Resources
Management (why not more CZM here, you ask?) and strongly in Area B -
Environmental Monitoring (monitoring oceans, reefs, and coastal zones). In this latter
area, mention is made of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and of the
International Coral Reef Initiatives under the Coastal Zone Module of GOOS, under
which initiative the World Conservation Monitoring Center is digitising existing maps
of the world’s reefs. The problems of data management and use are highlighted by the
statement that “in just two minutes, a satellite can collect phytoplankton data for an
area the size of Texas and New Mexico, which would have previously taken a ship an
entire decade (to collect)”.
International Initiatives/Programmes in Relation to the GSDI Discussion
Numerous global initiatives exist which include elements of CZM and marine research
and which should be part of the GSDI discussions. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) is involved in a series of major initiatives springing from the 1992
Rio Conference. The Baltic Sea programme underway at UNEP-GRID is a typical
example of such work. Other UN organisations involved in marine or coastal research,
training or education include UNESCO, the WMO - World Meteorological Office,
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organisation, UNIDO - UN Industrial Development
Organisation, IMO - International Maritime Organisation and more.
Unfortunately for the CZM and marine research community, there were no
representatives of these major environmental or ocean-related organisations or
initiatives in attendance at the GSDI meeting in Bonn in September 1996. The needs
of this large and growing community were brought to the attention of those attending
the second GSDI meeting in October 1997.