Office of Science and Technology Policy

U.S. Group on Earth Observations

U.S. Group on Earth Observations

The U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) is chartered as a subcommittee under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).  USGEO is an interagency body, with thirteen government agencies represented.  USGEO’s purpose is threefold:

  • to coordinate, plan, and assess Federal Earth observation activities in cooperation with domestic stakeholders;
  • to foster improved Earth system data management and interoperability throughout the Federal Government; and,
  • to engage interagency and national stakeholders to formulate the U.S. position for, and coordinate U.S. participation in the international Group on Earth Observations (GEO).

Value of Earth Observations

The Federal Government invests more than $3 billion in civil Earth observations and data annually across multiple agencies, and leverages investments made by State, local and tribal governments, academia and industry.  These investments fund systems, sensors, and surveys that generate data about the environment and the Earth system used to fulfill agency missions, enhance quality of life, and strengthen the economy. These observations contribute to data sets, models, simulations, and information products that provide public and private stakeholders with critical information about natural resources, climate and weather, disaster events, land-use change, ecosystem health, and many other measurements and characteristics of the planet. Publicly funded Earth observations which are integrated, open and freely available are critical to understanding complex social dynamics such as human influence on food and water resources, energy security, and climate change, and their resulting impacts on societal health and well-being. These data and observations also support private sector products and services, enhancing productivity, employment, and the economy.

Contact Information

Tim Stryker, USGEO Program Director, tstryker@ostp.eop.gov                                                               

Wade Price, USGEO Executive Secretary, wade.price@noaa.gov

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