Over the last few years, the existence of GEO has had a significant impact on the work of IAG and, in particular, IAG's observing system, the Global Geodetic Observing system known as GGOS. This system provides the reference frame for all Earth observations and many societal applications. A particular pertinent example is AFREF, which is developing a common reference frame for all African nations. Eventually, given sufficient resources and sustainability, this frame will provide a common accurate grid as a basis to link Earth observations throughout Africa.
The geodetic observing system provides observations relevant for several of the Societal Benefit Areas addressed by GEO, including Disasters, Water, Climate, and Weather. Striving to understand the needs of the Societal Benefits Areas in terms of geodetic observations, GGOS has worked with users in these areas and carried out a strategy process. This strategy lays out the roadmap for the further development of the geodetic observing system.
The Summit Report identifies the need of a sustained core infrastructure. This is also true for GGOS. Currently, the infrastructure of the geodetic observing system is largely based on research activities. In particular, the satellite missions that measure sea level and ice sheet changes or fluctuation in land water storage need to transition into an operational core. The same is true for the InSAR missions that are so important for geohazards, and the developing ground networks and infrastructure for AFREF.
We believe that the Cape Town Declaration sets the stage to achieve this important goal of a sustained operation of the geodetic infrastructure on which much of the Earth observation of GEOSS depends. IAG therefore fully supports the declaration. We will continue to contribute to GEO and GEOSS and explore the opportunities the GEO framework offers for the further development of GGOS as IAG's contribution to GEOSS.