The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has established the US Group on Earth Observations (USGEO), a subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). USGEO serves as the primary forum for interagency discussion and coordination of Earth observation activities, data management, and related international issues. Its purpose is to plan and coordinate federal Earth observations, research, and activities, and to foster improved Earth system data management and interoperability.

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising EO technologies for services 

• Understand national 

policies and identify national policies that utilise EO data

• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing EO usage in the nation

• Inter-ministerial working group

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 10k–20k

• Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Note: A complete study would range from USD 50k-250k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain, identification of existing data sources, developing use cases, and a capability maturity assessment) 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–12 mo

• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)

Pros:

• Resource Effectiveness - Allows to leverage current resources more effectively, reducing waste and maximizing utility

• Cost Effectiveness - Improves allocation of financial resources, maximizing impact while minimizing waste

Considerations:

• Timeline - Time-consuming as diverse interests of multiple stakeholders need to be considered.