Leadership
Brian O’Connor
Co-Lead
Spatial Data Specialist, UNCCD Secretariat, Germany
Background
The Data Analytics and Standards working group is one of the currently three GEO-LDN working groups. It merges the previous working groups on Data Quality Standards and Data Analytics. The decision was taken as it is becoming apparent that issues relating to technical and quality data standards, interoperability of data products, and data analysis are increasingly intertwined and need to be considered together.
Objective
The working group is focused on establishing an open user community and developing open standards, open-source tools and methods to calculate SDG Indicator 15.3.1, to exchange data and to support planning, implementation, and monitoring of actions to achieve LDN from EO and other data sources including through innovation in new geospatial technology.
Workstreams 2025 – 2026
- Cross cutting activities: Communications, alignment with other working groups, contributions to co-creation of knowledge products and publications, engaging the membership;
- Work Stream 1: Research & Development on LDN:
Example: Convene LDN innovators (AI, SAR, high-resolution approaches);
- Work Stream 2: Standards:
Example: Collaborate with OGC on documenting the standard for Trends.Earth/UNCCD file encoding.
- Work Stream 3: Interoperability:
Example: Develop communication products on synergies in tools and information systems between land degradation, restoration, biodiversity, and climate.
- Work Stream 4: GEO LDN Toolbox:
Example: Revision of the Toolbox concept and quality assessment;
- Work Stream 5: Collaboration with other agencies and organizations on Data – ensure that LDN is represented across agendas.
Examples: CEOS LSI-VC (Land Surface Imaging) and IAEG-SDG (Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDGs).
Here is the link to the Work plan table
Mode of collaboration
Working group meetings will be convened on a demand driven basis and in most cases as virtual events. International conferences (e.g. the Conferences of Parties of the UNCCD, ESA Living Planet Symposium or similar) shall be used to convene working group meetings as well. Apart from virtual meetings, open calls for documents reviews or requests for comments will be issued by working group co-leads.
