GGOSScience Panel
2020-2022 Implementation Plan

1.0 IMPLEMENTATION OVERVIEW
1.1 Introduction
As defined in the GGOS Terms of Reference (approved in December 2018), “The GGOS
Science Panel is an independent and multi-disciplinary advisory board that provides
scientific support and guidance to the GGOS steering and coordination entities asrequested.” The Science Panel serves as a primary point of communication andrepresentation between GGOS and the geodetic and geoscience communities. It is
composed of the leading experts in geodesy and general Earth sciences and provides
valuable guidance to ensure that GGOS activities remain focused on the relevantscientific and societal needs of the day, as well as future needs.
Because of this key role within the organization, the Chair of the Science Panel is a voting
member of the Coordinating Board and a permanent guest at meetings of the Executive
Committee.

1.2 Goals and Objectives
The GGOS Science Panel advises and provides recommendations relating to the scientificcontent of the GGOS 2020 book to the Coordinating Board; and represents the geodeticand geoscience community at GGOS meetings. The Science Panel links GGOS with thescience community and endeavors to support all GGOS entities to achieve all their goalsand objectives and make their outcomes a reality. Nevertheless, as shown in Table 1.21, the Science Panel will handle directly a set of primary and secondary objectives (seeTable 1.2-1 caption for the distinction).
Primary Goals and Objectives — The Primary Goal and Objectives of the Science Panelare Goal 1 (Geodetic Information and Expertise) with Objectives 1.1 (Understandsocietal and scientific needs and deficiencies) and 1.3 (Connect with the larger scientificcommunity and integrate with other Earth observing systems).
The Science Panel will undertake to achieve the desired outcomes associated with thisprimary goal and objectives, namely (as stated in the Strategic Plan):
Objective 1-1 – Understand societal and scientific needs and deficiencies: GGOS
will determine how to position itself as the primary source for geodetic informationand expertise by first determining the greatest areas of need within the technicalcommunity and society.
Outcome 1-1A: A complete survey of all relevant areas benefitting from global

geodetic information and expertise, highlighting areas in need of support, andrecommending relevant GGOS components or services that may potentially beable to fill these needs or deficiencies.
Outcome 1-1B: Knowledge of the greatest societal and scientific needs for
geodetic products and services.
Objective 1-3 – Reaching out to the larger scientific community and integration
with other Earth observing systems: As the primary source for integrated
geodetic information and expertise of the IAG, GGOS will reach out to the larger
scientific community and integrate with other Earth observing systems as part of
the Global Earth Observations System of Systems.
Outcome 1-3A: Conduct and/or support meetings, workshops, and symposia in
support of the multidisciplinary engagement and integration of individual experts
as well as geodetic organizations and international services.
Outcome 1-3B: GGOS, the IAG Earth observation system, will continue to be
integrated with other Earth observing systems such as: the Global Ocean
Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS),
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Terrestrial Observing System(GTOS).
Outcome 1-3C: GGOS will continue its participation in groups such as the Groupon Earth Observations (GEO) and its Global Earth Observations System ofSystems (GEOSS), and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).
Secondary Goals and Objectives — The Secondary Goals and Objectives of the Science
Panel are Goal 1 (Geodetic Information and Expertise) with Objective 1.2 (Position GGOS
as the primary source for geodetic information and expertise), Goal 3 (Services,Standardization, and Support) with its Objective 3-1 (Coordination and development ofIAG Services), and Goal 4 (Communication, education, and outreach) with its Objective
4-2 (Outreach to the technical community and general society).
The Science Panel will undertake to achieve the desired outcomes associated with thesesecondary goals and objectives, namely (as stated in the Strategic Plan):
Objective 1-2 – Position GGOS as the primary source for geodetic information andexpertise: Informed by the outcomes of Objective 1-1, GGOS will determine thesteps necessary to position itself as the primary source of geodetic information.
Outcome 1-2A: GGOS will facilitate the integration of pertinent existing IAG
products and services with potential additional IAG products and services,
specifically addressing areas of need.
Outcome 1-2B: GGOS, as a clearinghouse for geodetic information and expertise,
will serve as the voice of consensus within the geodetic community.
Outcome 1-2C: GGOS will engage and integrate experts in all services within theorganization.
Objective 3-1 – Standardization: GGOS will operate using a set of establishedstandards within the system of systems, in order to optimize communication
within GGOS, among the services, and externally.
Outcome 3-1: GGOS organizational structure and operation will create
standardized reports, processes, templates, support products, conventions,models, and reference frames.
Objective 4-2 – Outreach to the Technical Community and General Society:
Develop outreach efforts to engage relevant groups in the participation of GGOS
efforts, as well as providing educational resources to the general population.
Outcome 4-2A: GGOS will engage the expert population within GGOS
membership; outreach to related and potentially complementary groups;
support of geodetic satellite missions; advocate for new stations; and engage thegeneral technical community through sessions at workshops and conferences.
Outcome 4-2B: Maintain a component of the GGOS website for education andgeneral interest audiences; publish materials for distribution to students ofvarious age as well as a general audience.
Table 1.2-1: Science Panel Goals and Objectives Mapping. The table identifies the primary (✓✓) and secondary (✓) Goalsand Objectives that the Science Panel will be supporting to meet the outcomes stated in the GGOS strategic pan. Primarygoals and objectives are those that are aligned with the charter of the GGOS Entity in question and are not likely to berealized without its involvement. Secondary goals and objectives are those that the given GGOS Entity can support aspart of its charter.

1.3 Science Panel Authority, Governance Structure, Management Structure,and Implementation Approach
1.3.1 Science Panel Authority
The Science Panel acts under the authority of the Coordinating Board. The Science Panelprovides scientific advice to GGOS and supports all of the GGOS entities as requested.
1.3.2 Governance Structure
The fundamental governing structure of GGOS, including its Science Panel, is dictated bythe GGOS Terms of Reference (GGOS 2015). The Terms of Reference establish theposition of a Chair of the Science Panel. The Chair of the Science Panel is a voting
member of the Coordinating Board and a permanent guest at meetings of the Executive
Committee.
1.3.3 Management Structure
The Members of the Science Panel are nominated by the GGOS Focus Areas and by theCommissions and Inter-Commission Committees of the IAG and are approved by theCoordinating Board. The immediate past Chair is an ex officio member of the Science
Panel and the Coordinating Board may appoint additional Members-at-large to theScience Panel in order to provide balance in representation of geographical regions orunique capabilities. The Science Panel elects one of its Members to serve as the Chair ofthe Science Panel subject to the approval of the Coordinating Board.

1.3.4 Implementation Approach
The GGOS Science Panel relies on partner institutions to provide the Members of theScience Panel. The GGOS Science Panel also relies on the other GGOS entities that itsupports.

1.4 Stakeholder Definition
Table 1.4-1 summarizes the advocacy strategy for the identified internal and external
stakeholders of GGOS including the Science Panel.

2.0 Science Panel BASELINESThe Science Panel supports all of the other GGOS entities upon request. The
requirements, schedule, and technical and scientific content that form the foundationof the Science Panel are therefore derived from the tasking that it receives from theother GGOS entities.
The activities of GGOS are reviewed by the Science Panel to ensure that GGOS remains
relevant to the needs of science and society. As a result of the ongoing reviews, theScience Panel may identify gaps in the activities of GGOS and may recommend actions

to fill the gaps including the development of new products and the establishment of newFocus Areas.
GGOS sessions are proposed and convened by the Science Panel at major scientificconferences in order to reach out to the geodetic and larger scientific communities tokeep them informed about and engage them in GGOS’activities.
Topical science workshops are organized by the Science Panel in order to determine therequirements that different scientific disciplines have for geodetic data and products.
And the Science Panel co-organizes Unified Analysis Workshops with the IERS in orderto advance the combination and integration of space and in situ geodetic techniques.
The Science Panel cooperates for the editing of GGOS special issues in scientific journals
and for the planning of regular articles in GGOS newsletters.

2.1 Requirements Baseline
Since the Science Panel supports all of the other GGOS entities, its requirements areinherited from them. Depending upon the tasks given to the Science Panel, it could
potentially inherit a number of the GGOS requirements. The totality of functional andoperational requirements can be found in the Coordinating Board implementation plan.

2.2 Schedule Baseline
The schedule of the tasks given to the Science Panel by the other GGOS entities is taskdependent and is determined in consultation with the tasking entity.
The review of the activities of GGOS by the Science Panel is an ongoing activity and assuch has no set schedule.
The schedule of the other activities of the Science Panel is shown below. These activities
are divided into three main categories: Convening GGOS sessions at scientificconferences, organizing GGOS topical science workshops, and co-organizing Unified
Analysis Workshops with the IERS.
GGOS Sessions at Scientific Conferences
American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly Annually (Spring)
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Annually (December)
European Geosciences Union General Assembly Annually (April)
Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Annual Meeting Annually (Summer)*1

Japan Geoscience Union General Assembly Annually (May)*1
International Association of Geodesy General Assembly Quadrennially (2019, ...)
International Association of Geodesy Scientific Assembly Quadrennially (2021, ...)
*1Optional for years without IAG General/Scientific Assemblies
Unified Analysis Workshops
Unified Analysis Workshops Triennially (2021, ...)

2.3 Resources
Human resources are provided by the partner institutions that provide the Members ofthe Science Panel. Workforce requirements are highly variable since they depend upon
the tasking levied upon the Science Panel by the GGOS entities that the Science Panelsupports.
Material resources are provided by the partner institutions that provide the Membersof the Science Panel.
Travel costs are similarly covered by the partner institutions that provide the Membersof the Science Panel.
Other costs, such as meeting rooms and teleconferences, are covered by the hosting
institutions.

3.0 CHANGE LOG
Table 3-1: Science Panel Implementation Plan Change Log
VERSION

RELEASE DATESYNOPSIS OF RELEASE

0.1[150326]First draft of 2015-2016 plan for review

1.0[150623]

Final version of 2015-2016 plan

1.1[161122]First draft of 2017-2018 plan for review

2.0[210212]

Final Version of 2020-2022 Implementation PlanTable 3-1: Coordinating Office Implementation Plan Change Log

4.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A. Abbreviations
BNO Bureau of Networks and Operations
BPS Bureau of Products and Standards
CB Coordinating Board
CM Center of Mass
CO Coordinating Office
CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
CRF Celestial Reference FrameDORIS Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite
EOP Earth Orientation Parameter
FTE Full-time Equivalent
GCOS Global Climate Observing System
GEO Group on Earth Observations
GEOSS Global Earth Observations System of Systems
GGIM Global Geospatial Information Management
GIAC GGOS Interagency Committee
GIMS GGOS Integrated Master Schedule
GGOS Global Geodetic Observing System
GLOSS Global Sea Level Observing System
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GOOS Global Ocean Observing SystemGTOS Global Terrestrial Observing System
IAG International Association of Geodesy
ICRF International Celestial Reference FrameIDS International DORIS Service
IERS International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service
IGS International GNSS ServiceIGeS International Geoid Service
IGFS International Gravity Field Service
ILRS International Laser Ranging Service
ITRF International Terrestrial Reference FrameIUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
IVS International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry
PSMSL Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level
RFO Reference Frame Origin
SLR Satellite Laser Ranging

TRF Terrestrial Reference Frame
UN United Nations
VLBI Very Long Baseline Interferometry

Appendix B References[GGOS 2015] Terms of Reference of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS),
IAG Executive Committee, IUGG XXVI General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, June
2015.
[GGOS 2020]: Global Geodetic Observing System: Meeting the Requirements of aGlobal Society on a Changing Planet in 2020", H.-P. Plag and M. Pearlman (editors),Springer, 2009