Global Geodetic Observing System

What Global Geodetic Observing System does

The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) is the official observing system of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), itself a constituent association of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). GGOS provides the framework for accurate measurements and consistent modelling of Earth system processes, including global change, Earth deformation, and mass exchange between the geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrososphere, and atmosphere. Its core offerings comprise three pillars: Observations (geodetic observation infrastructure and techniques), Products (standardized geodetic products derived from observational data), and Services (technical services to analyze data and produce products). The GGOS Portal serves as a centralized metadata platform for these resources, and the organization operates through Bureaus (BNO for Networks and Observations; BPS for Products and Standards), Focus Areas (Geohazards Monitoring, Geodetic Space Weather Research, and AI for Geodesy), and regional Affiliates (GGOS Japan, GGOS D-A-CH, GGOS IberAtlantic). It also has a working governance structure (Governing Board, Executive Committee, Science Panel) and a Coordinating Office hosted by BEV (Austrian Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying) in Vienna since 2016.

GGOS does not operate as a commercial enterprise. It is a non-profit scientific program with no disclosed pricing, revenue, or commercial sales channels. Membership and participation flow through IAG, and the organization is funded through institutional support (notably BEV) and in-kind contributions from the global geodesy community. The Coordinating Office is staffed by a small core team (Director, Web/Social Media Manager, Assistant), with governance and research distributed across an international network of IAG Services, committees, and working groups. Partnerships and coordination agreements with UN-GGIM, UN-GGCE, GEO, CEOS, FIG, and ISC World Data System position GGOS as the de facto coordination layer for global geodetic infrastructure across scientific, governmental, and intergovernmental stakeholders.

Name

Global Geodetic Observing System

Legal name

Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS)

Website

https://ggos.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) is the official observing system of the International Association of Geodesy, coordinating global geodetic observation infrastructure, standardized products, and metadata services for the international scientific, governmental, and intergovernmental Earth observation community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Geodetic Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Space Research and Technology (92711)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

Keywords

• Geodetic observation infrastructure
• Earth system monitoring
• Geodetic reference frames
• Geospatial data products
• Earth deformation analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GGOS provides the essential framework for accurate measurements and consistent modelling and interpretation of Earth system processes, including global change, Earth deformation, and mass exchange between geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. It coordinates global geodetic observation infrastructure and expertise to analyze observational data and produce standardized geodetic products serving science and society. Its three core offering pillars are Observations, Products, and Services, supported by the GGOS Portal metadata platform and focus areas including Geohazards Monitoring, Geodetic Space Weather Research, and AI for Geodesy.

Product overview

GGOS (Global Geodetic Observing System) is a unified framework under the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) that provides geodetic observation infrastructure, expertise, and products. The system comprises three core offerings: Observations (geodetic observation techniques and infrastructure), Products (geodetic products derived from analysis), and Services (technical services). Additionally, the GGOS Portal serves as a metadata platform providing unified access to geodetic data and products. GGOS also operates through Focus Areas covering Geohazards Monitoring, Geodetic Space Weather Research, and AI for Geodesy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Observations Geodetic observation techniques and infrastructure that monitor Earth system processes including global change, Earth deformation, and mass exchange between geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
• Products Geodetic products derived from observational data analysis that serve science and society.
• Services Technical services provided by IAG to analyze observational data and produce geodetic products.
• GGOS Portal A unique metadata platform for geodetic data and products, providing centralized access to GGOS resources and information, managed and coordinated by the GGOS Coordinating Office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monitoring global Earth system changes through integrated observations

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• BEV (Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Office of Metrology and Surveying hosts the IAG Secretariat and GGOS Coordinating Office in Vienna, Austria since 2016. BEV staff serve as Director (Martin Sehnal), Web and Social Media Manager (Helmut Klima), and Assistant (Lucas Triebenbacher).
• IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Association of Geodesy (IAG) is a constituent association of IUGG, the international organization promoting Earth science research.
• GEO (Group on Earth Observations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGOS coordinates engagement with GEO through the Manager of External Relations position, supporting global Earth observation initiatives.
• CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGOS coordinates with CEOS through the Manager of External Relations for satellite observation collaboration.
• UN-GGIM (UN Global Geospatial Information Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGOS engages with UN-GGIM Subcommittee on Geodesy (SCoG) for global geospatial information management initiatives.
• UN-GGCE (UN Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGOS coordinates with UN-GGCE for global geodesy initiatives under the United Nations framework.
• ISC World Data System (WDS)majorTechnology or IntegrationGGOS coordinates with ISC WDS for data management and open science practices in geodesy.
• FIG (International Federation of Surveyors)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGOS engages with FIG, the international federation representing the surveying profession globally.
• GGOS Affiliates (Japan, D-A-CH, IberAtlantic)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional GGOS affiliates: GGOS Japan, GGOS D-A-CH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), and GGOS IberAtlantic representing regional geodetic communities.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Group on Earth Observations (GEO): GEO is an intergovernmental partnership coordinating global Earth observation initiatives across member states and organizations. Like GGOS, it convenes Earth observation infrastructure and data coordination at the international level, with overlapping stakeholder ecosystem (CEOS, UN agencies, national mapping bodies).
• Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS): CEOS coordinates international satellite Earth observation missions and data, with GGOS maintaining a direct engagement relationship through its Manager of External Relations. Both organizations sit at the intersection of satellite observations, geodesy, and international data coordination.
• International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS): IERS is an IAG Service responsible for Earth orientation parameters and celestial/terrestrial reference frames — closely aligned with GGOS's geodetic products mission and operating under the same IAG umbrella.
• UN Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM): UN-GGIM is the UN's intergovernmental mechanism on geospatial information management, with which GGOS maintains core relations via its Subcommittee on Geodesy. Both address global geodetic/geospatial coordination at the policy and operational levels.
• ISC World Data System (WDS): ISC WDS is a global network of scientific data repositories that, like GGOS, coordinates open science data management practices. GGOS maintains a Major partnership with WDS for data management and open science practices in geodesy.
• UN Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE): UN-GGCE is the UN's centre dedicated to strengthening global geodetic infrastructure, with which GGOS maintains core coordination. Both organizations share an overlapping mandate on global geodesy under the United Nations framework.

Emerging players

• International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG): IUGG is the parent scientific union of IAG (which houses GGOS), promoting Earth science research across geodesy, geophysics, and related disciplines. While broader in scope than GGOS, it is the overarching governance and coordination body for the scientific community GGOS serves.

Others

• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG): FIG is the international federation representing the surveying profession globally. GGOS maintains a Major partnership with FIG for professional surveying community engagement — FIG is adjacent to GGOS's mandate in that surveying relies on the geodetic reference frames GGOS coordinates.

Broad incumbents

• ESA Copernicus Programme: Copernicus is the European Union's Earth observation programme providing satellite-based geospatial data services. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps with GGOS's mission in Earth system monitoring, with greater scale and funding but a more programmatic European orientation.
• NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (EOSDIS): NASA EOSDIS is a major Earth observation data management infrastructure handling petabyte-scale datasets. It operates as a broad incumbent in the same Earth observation data coordination space as GGOS, with far larger scale but narrower focus on NASA mission data.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IAG_GGOS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@iag-ggos
• Facebookfacebook.com/iagGGOS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iag-ggos
• Instagraminstagram.com/iag_geodesy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global Geodetic Observing System