Development of Metadata and Ontology Standardization Strategy for Korean Earth Observation Data

The frequency and scale of natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and tidal waves from earthquakes have increased recently. Several nations have recognized that earth observation is essential for protecting the Earth’s environment. Therefore, 50 nations around the world have agreed upon the construction of GEO (Group on Earth Observation), which is to be in charge of the earth observation in an effort to gain understanding of earth system changes as well as to monitor and predict these changes. However, the data format from earth observation varies depending on the areas, institutions, and countries. This presents a challenge when attempting to share and exchange data among different organizations. Thus, a metadata scheme and system of ontology suitable for domestic situations is developed in this study to facilitate exchanges of data regarding areas that benefit society with reference to the principles of data sharing and exchange regarding GEO. Also established is the KGEO metadata and ontology required to identify the metadata situation of earth observation data that is used for nine societal benefit areas of GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems). Against this backdrop, 50 nations around the world came to share an understanding that the increasing frequency and scale of natural disasters are closely related to changes in the earth environment such as global warming, and that the rapid changes in the earth environment could the survival of mankind. Based upon this consensus, the countries have established Group of Global Observation (GEO) which is to be in charge of earth observation in an effort to gain understanding of earth system changes as well as to monitor and predict these changes. Meanwhile, Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), developed and operated by GEO, is designed to perform comprehensive, continued, coordinated observation of weather, climate, oceanography, land and ecology of the earth system, analyze the obtained data, make predictions, and then delivery useful final information to those who need it in a timely manner. Because issues concerning the earth environment is influenced by domestic as well as international situations, Korea must lay a foundation for data collection, generation, storage, analysis and exchange to enhance the nexus between different systems operated by different governmental organizations or areas, and further increase the level of data utilization, in order to effectively respond to the GEOSS international cooperative project at the national level and to successfully carry out the GEOSS establishment project in Korea. In addition, in order to develop an integrated operation system of earth observation data systems developed and operated by different areas and organizations, the principles of data sharing and exchange discussed in GEO must be