The technological advances and political atmosphere leading to the formation of the ESIP Federation were fueled by scientific discoveries that showed potential adverse impacts upon the environment due to human activity. The ESIP Federation is broad-based consortium of Earth scientists, representing the entire research spectrum from data collection, to research, to applications development. As such, the ESIP Federation is organized around these distinct functional groupings.
- Type I ESIP Federation Partners are primarily distributors of satellite and ground-based data sets, as well as standardized products derived from those data.
- Type II ESIP Federation Partners are primarily providers of data and information products, technology, or services aimed primarily at the Earth science and research communities.
- Type III ESIP Federation Partners are engaged principally in the development and provision of Earth science applications.
- Type IV ESIP Partners are strategic funding partners.