Data and Information Systems

Background and Objectives

The early planning of IGBP recognized that considerable effort must be directed towards the development of effective data systems, essential for the success of the program as a whole. IGBP-DIS would ensure appropriate data sets for, e.g. operation and validation of models, notably satellite observations and other spatially-referenced datasets which would otherwise not be gathered by the core projects themselves. The IGPB DIS had in addition the responsibility for the development and coordination of data management policies within IGBP, such as: assistance to IGBP Core Projects in the development of their individual data system plans; helped in the provision of an overall data system plan for IGBP; carried out activities leading directly to the generation of data sets; ensured the development of effective data management systems and acted, where appropriate, to ensure meeting the data and information needs of IGBP through international and national organizations and agencies.

With the evolution both of data-handling technology and of the IGBP itself, the IGBP Scientific Committee decided to terminate DIS at the end of 2001. Several of the IGBP-DIS functions and activities were then transferred to GAIM, the current core project dealing with modeling, interpretation and analysis. IGBP-DIS International Project Office (IPO) was kindly hosted by Meteo-France throughout its activity period.

IGBP-DIS Data Legacy

“DISCover Global 1km Land Cover classification” which can be obtained from the Eros Data Center DAAC

“Global gridded surface of selected soils characteristics”, distributed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC

IGBP-DIS started the initial elaboration of the "Earth System Atlas" designed to provide a wide range of users with a series of Global Change related digital maps and time series, along with access to the underlying data from which they were constructed, and text explanation of data collection, analysis, and other pertinent information. GAIM took over the Atlas after IGBP-DIS was terminated, and is currently under further development by the ESSP. The Atlas is meant for a wide range of users, including the scientific community, educators, policy makers and the general public.