Development and trend of Earth observation data sharing

Earth Observation data sharing plays fundamental role for earth science research, which is an important part in the EO data lifecycle. Affected by the changing of data sharing ecosystem with resource provider/consumer/processor relationship, the sharing mechanism is presenting itself in sequential phases of rear-sharing, project-sharing, department-sharing and public-sharing. Information technologies have always driving the changing of scientific agenda of data sharing, which now can be understood as data open, data sharing and data link. Open of data means the condition of accessible via network, sharing of data means authorized method to reuse data, and link of data means scientific cross-understanding and cooperation of different data resources. Comparing with the evolution history of data sharing policy in USA, China needs to improve its sharing mechanism to be multi-win and sustainable by a dynamic adjusted data sharing socio-ecosystem. The present technical framework of earth observation data sharing is built up with implementation components of data open, data sharing, data publication and data citation, and so on. Under the revolution on cultural, political, technical and application factors for earth observation data sharing, the Next Generation EO Data Infrastructure based on deeply and widely sharing is becoming a reality. The new technical trends of earth observation data sharing as Globalization, cross-disciplinary, standardization, facility-oriented, big-data and public-engagement, will heavily change the related scientific activities in near future. © 2016, Science Press. All right reserved.