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At least 325 records · Page 18

Initial Approach to Collect Small Unmanned Aircraft System Off-Nominal Operational Situations Data

NASA is developing the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management research platform to safely integrate small unmanned aircraft operations in large-scale at low-altitudes. As a part of this effort, small unmanned aircraft system off-nominal operational situations data collection process has been developed to take lessons learned and to reinforce operational compliance. In this paper, descriptions of variables used for digital data collection and an online report form for collection of observational data from the operators (contextual data) are provided. They are used to collect off-nominal data from the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management National Campaign in 2017. The digital data show that 2 out of 118 campaign operations (1.7%) encountered loss of navigation. Since the campaign aircraft used Global Positioning System for navigation, it is likely that unobstructed view of the sky at the campaign locations contributed to this small number. Also, 4 out of 47 operations (8.5%) encountered loss of communications. A relatively short distance between ground control system and aircraft, ranging from 2300 feet to 4200 feet, likely contributed to this small number. There was no data to identify the loss of communications condition, aircraft received signal strength, for the remaining 71 operations suggesting that some operators may not be monitoring unmanned aircraft communications system performance or monitoring it with different parameters. For the contextual data, due to the low number of total reports during the campaign, no significant trends emerged. This is an initial attempt to collect contextual data from small unmanned aircraft operators about off-nominal situations, and changes will be made to the future data collection to improve the amount and quality of the information.

unmanned aviation systems traffic management (UTM)↗

Initial Approach to Collect Small Unmanned Aircraft System Off-Nominal Operational Situations Data

NASA is developing the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management research platform to safely integrate small unmanned aircraft operations in large-scale at low-altitudes. As a part of this effort, small unmanned aircraft system off-nominal operational situations data collection process has been developed to take lessons learned and to reinforce operational compliance. In this paper, descriptions of variables used for digital data collection and an online report form for collection of observational data from the operators (contextual data) are provided. They are used to collect off-nominal data from the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management National Campaign in 2017. The digital data show that 2 out of 118 campaign operations (1.7%) encountered loss of navigation. Since the campaign aircraft used Global Positioning System for navigation, it is likely that unobstructed view of the sky at the campaign locations contributed to this small number. Also, 4 out of 47 operations (8.5%) encountered loss of communications. A relatively short distance between ground control system and aircraft, ranging from 2300 feet to 4200 feet, likely contributed to this small number. There was no data to identify the loss of communications condition, aircraft received signal strength, for the remaining 71 operations suggesting that some operators may not be monitoring unmanned aircraft communications system performance or monitoring it with different parameters. For the contextual data, due to the low number of total reports during the campaign, no significant trends emerged. This is an initial attempt to collect contextual data from small unmanned aircraft operators about off-nominal situations, and changes will be made to the future data collection to improve the amount and quality of the information.

Jung, Jaewoo↗

Automated attendance accounting system

An automated accounting system useful for applying data to a computer from any or all of a multiplicity of data terminals is disclosed. The system essentially includes a preselected number of data terminals which are each adapted to convert data words of decimal form to another form, i.e., binary, usable with the computer. Each data terminal may take the form of a keyboard unit having a number of depressable buttons or switches corresponding to selected data digits and/or function digits. A bank of data buffers, one of which is associated with each data terminal, is provided as a temporary storage. Data from the terminals is applied to the data buffers on a digit by digit basis for transfer via a multiplexer to the computer.

Chapman, C. P.↗

Relative Accuracy Assessment of LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM Data for Level 1 Land Cover Inventory

Digital data for the Washington, D.C. scene from the LANDSAT-4 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) are compared. Classification success for the TM and MSS data sets was determined by a per pixel comparison with digitized ground verification data (GVD). These GVD were comprised of Level I land cover (developed, agriculture, forest, water, wetlands, and barren) for four USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps. Classification accuracy was computed as an average value and for each cover type. Accuracy was expressed two ways: (1) as the percent correspondence with GVD (% correct) and (2) as the percent correspondence relative to both the GVD and LANDSAT classification schemes. Errors of omission and commission associated with the LANDSAT classifications were also computed. Specific results are discussed.

Middleton, E. M.↗

Relative Accuracy Assessment of LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM Data for Level 1 Land Cover Inventory

Digital data for the Washington, DC scene simultaneously acquired by the LANDSAT-4 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the LANDSAT-4 thematic mapper (TM) was compared. Classification success for the TM and MSS data sets was determined by a per pixel comparison with digitized ground verification data (GVD). These GVD were comprised of Level 7 land cover (developed, agriculture, forest, water, wetlands, and barren) for four USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle maps. The relative improvement in classification success for TM was between 11% and 14%, or about a factor of 1.3, for these data. This represents a meaningful improvement in accuracy for Level 7 land cover categorization for TM relative to MSS, particularly when errors of omission and commission were considered.

Middleton, E. M.↗

Detection of soil erosion with Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite data within Pinyon-Juniper woodlands

Pinyon-Juniper woodlands dominate approximately 24.3 million hectares (60 million acres) in the western United States. The overall objective was to test the sensitivity of the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) spectral data for detecting varying degrees of soil erosion within the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands. A second objective was to assess the potential of the spectral data for assigning the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) crop management (C) factor values to varying cover types within the woodland. Thematic Mapper digital data for June 2, 1984 on channels 2, 3, 4, and 5 were used. Digital data analysis was performed using the ELAS software package. Best results were achieved using CLUS, an unsupervised clustering algorithm. Fifteen of the 40 Pinyon-Juniper signatures were identified as being relatively pure Pinyon-Juniper woodland. Final analysis resulted in the grouping of the 15 signatures into three major groups. Ten study sites were selected from each of the three groups and located on the ground. At each site the following field measurements were taken: percent tree canopy and percent understory cover, soil texture, total soil loss, and soil erosion rate estimates. A technique for measuring soil erosion within Pinyon-Juniper woodlands was developed. A theoretical model of site degradation after Pinyon-Juniper invasion is presented.

Price, Kevin Paul↗

Concatenated algebraic decoder

Technique for manipulating digital data consists of mating two separate coding/decoding methods to produce hybrid inner-code/outer-code system. Interactive digital circuitry is used to manipulate casually related digital data.

Source record↗

Arizona geophysical data base

A series of digital data sets were compiled for input into a geophysical data base for a one degree quadrangle in Arizona. Using a Landsat digital mosaic as a base, information on topography, geology, gravity as well as Seasat radar imagery were registered. Example overlays and tabulations are performed.

Mcleod, R. G.↗

A sampling system for estimating the cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) from LANDSAT data

Using digitally processed MSS/LANDSAT data as auxiliary variable, a methodology to estimate wheat (Triticum aestivum L) area by means of sampling techniques was developed. To perform this research, aerial photographs covering 720 sq km in Cruz Alta test site at the NW of Rio Grande do Sul State, were visually analyzed. LANDSAT digital data were analyzed using non-supervised and supervised classification algorithms; as post-processing the classification was submitted to spatial filtering. To estimate wheat area, the regression estimation method was applied and different sample sizes and various sampling units (10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 sq km) were tested. Based on the four decision criteria established for this research, it was concluded that: (1) as the size of sampling units decreased the percentage of sampled area required to obtain similar estimation performance also decreased; (2) the lowest percentage of the area sampled for wheat estimation with relatively high precision and accuracy through regression estimation was 90% using 10 sq km s the sampling unit; and (3) wheat area estimation by direct expansion (using only aerial photographs) was less precise and accurate when compared to those obtained by means of regression estimation.

Parada, N. D. J.↗

Computer generated maps from digital satellite data - A case study in Florida

Ground cover maps are important tools to a wide array of users. Over the past three decades, much progress has been made in supplementing planimetric and topographic maps with ground cover details obtained from aerial photographs. The present investigation evaluates the feasibility of using computer maps of ground cover from satellite input tapes. Attention is given to the selection of test sites, a satellite data processing system, a multispectral image analyzer, general purpose computer-generated maps, the preliminary evaluation of computer maps, a test for areal correspondence, the preparation of overlays and acreage estimation of land cover types on the Landsat computer maps. There is every indication to suggest that digital multispectral image processing systems based on Landsat input data will play an increasingly important role in pattern recognition and mapping land cover in the years to come.

Arvanitis, L. G.↗

Lossless Coding Standards for Space Data Systems

The International Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is preparing to issue its first recommendation for a digital data compression standard. Because the space data systems of primary interest are employed to support scientific investigations requiring accurate representation, this initial standard will be restricted to lossless compression.

digital data compression digital data compression ↗

VLBI2010 Receiver Back End Comparison

VLBI2010 requires a receiver back-end to convert analog RF signals from the receiver front end into channelized digital data streams to be recorded or transmitted electronically. The back end functions are typically performed in two steps: conversion of analog RF inputs into IF bands (see Table 2), and conversion of IF bands into channelized digital data streams (see Tables 1a, 1b and 1c). The latter IF systems are now completely digital and generically referred to as digital back ends (DBEs). In Table 2 two RF conversion systems are compared, and in Tables 1a, 1b, and 1c nine DBE systems are compared. Since DBE designs are advancing rapidly, the data in these tables are only guaranteed to be current near the update date of this document.

Petrachenko, Bill↗

Status of and Scientific Results from the ISIS-I Topside Digital Ionogram Data Enhancement Project

Selected original analog telemetry tapes from three of the topside-sounder satellites of the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program, namely Alouette 2, ISIS I, and ISIS II, were used in an earlier project to produce more than million digital topside ionograms; the resulting digital topside ionograms from ISIS II were used to produce morethan 86,000 globally-distributed vertical topside ionospheric electron density profiles Ne(h)that cover a time span of more than a solar cycle. These Ne(h) were produced using the TOPIST auto-scaling software. Before attempting to automatically process Alouette-2 orISIS-I ionograms a data-enhancement project was initiated so as to increase the auto processing success rate. These enhancements were mainly to correct problems that often occurred during the analog-to-digital conversion of the original telemetry tapes. Here we present the status of, and results from, this ongoing enhancement effort.

topside ionosphere↗

Image Processing

Images are prepared from data acquired by the multispectral scanner aboard Landsat, which views Earth in four ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, two visible bands and two infrared. Scanner picks up radiation from ground objects and converts the radiation signatures to digital signals, which are relayed to Earth and recorded on tape. Each tape contains "pixels" or picture elements covering a ground area; computerized equipment processes the tapes and plots each pixel, line be line to produce the basic image. Image can be further processed to correct sensor errors, to heighten contrast for feature emphasis or to enhance the end product in other ways. Key factor in conversion of digital data to visual form is precision of processing equipment. Jet Propulsion Laboratory prepared a digital mosaic that was plotted and enhanced by Optronics International, Inc. by use of the company's C-4300 Colorwrite, a high precision, high speed system which manipulates and analyzes digital data and presents it in visual form on film. Optronics manufactures a complete family of image enhancement processing systems to meet all users' needs. Enhanced imagery is useful to geologists, hydrologists, land use planners, agricultural specialists geographers and others.

Source record↗

A data base of ASAS digital imagery

The Advanced Solid-State Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) is an airborne, off-nadir tilting, imaging spectroradiometer that acquires digital image data for 29 spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared. The sensor is used principally for studies of the bidirectional distribution of solar radiation scattered by terrestial surfaces. ASAS has acquired data for a number of terrestial ecosystem field experiments and investigators have received over 170 radiometrically corrected, multiangle, digital image data sets. A database of ASAS digital imagery has been established in the Pilot Land Data System (PLDS) at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center to provide access to these data by the scientific community. ASAS, its processed data, and the PLDS are described, together with recent improvements to the sensor system.

Irons, James R.↗

Field-Deployable Acoustic Digital Systems for Noise Measurement

Langley Research Center (LaRC) has for years been a leader in field acoustic array measurement technique. Two field-deployable digital measurement systems have been developed to support acoustic research programs at LaRC. For several years, LaRC has used the Digital Acoustic Measurement System (DAMS) for measuring the acoustic noise levels from rotorcraft and tiltrotor aircraft. Recently, a second system called Remote Acquisition and Storage System (RASS) was developed and deployed for the first time in the field along with DAMS system for the Community Noise Flight Test using the NASA LaRC-757 aircraft during April, 2000. The test was performed at Airborne Airport in Wilmington, OH to validate predicted noise reduction benefits from alternative operational procedures. The test matrix was composed of various combinations of altitude, cutback power, and aircraft weight. The DAMS digitizes the acoustic inputs at the microphone site and can be located up to 2000 feet from the van which houses the acquisition, storage and analysis equipment. Digitized data from up to 10 microphones is recorded on a Jaz disk and is analyzed post-test by microcomputer system. The RASS digitizes and stores acoustic inputs at the microphone site that can be located up to three miles from the base station and can compose a 3 mile by 3 mile array of microphones. 16-bit digitized data from the microphones is stored on removable Jaz disk and is transferred through a high speed array to a very large high speed permanent storage device. Up to 30 microphones can be utilized in the array. System control and monitoring is accomplished via Radio Frequency (RF) link. This paper will present a detailed description of both systems, along with acoustic data analysis from both systems.

Shams, Qamar A.↗

Frequency Agile Transceiver for Advanced Vehicle Data Links

Emerging and next-generation test instrumentation increasingly relies on network communication to manage complex and dynamic test scenarios, particularly for uninhabited autonomous systems. Adapting wireless communication infrastructure to accommodate challenging testing needs can benefit from reconfigurable radio technology. Frequency agility is one characteristic of reconfigurable radios that to date has seen only limited progress toward programmability. This paper overviews an ongoing project to validate a promising chipset that performs conversion of RF signals directly into digital data for the wireless receiver and, for the transmitter, converts digital data into RF signals. The Software Configurable Multichannel Transceiver (SCMT) enables four transmitters and four receivers in a single unit, programmable for any frequency band between 1 MHz and 6 GHz.

Freudinger, Lawrence C.↗

Status of emerging standards for removable computer storage media and related contributions of NIST

Standards for removable computer storage media are needed so that users may reliably interchange data both within and among various computer installations. Furthermore, media interchange standards support competition in industry and prevent sole-source lock-in. NIST participates in magnetic tape and optical disk standards development through Technical Committees X3B5, Digital Magnetic Tapes, X3B11, Optical Digital Data Disk, and the Joint Technical Commission on Data Permanence. NIST also participates in other relevant national and international standards committees for removable computer storage media. Industry standards for digital magnetic tapes require the use of Standard Reference Materials (SRM's) developed and maintained by NIST. In addition, NIST has been studying care and handling procedures required for digital magnetic tapes. NIST has developed a methodology for determining the life expectancy of optical disks. NIST is developing care and handling procedures for optical digital data disks and is involved in a program to investigate error reporting capabilities of optical disk drives. This presentation reflects the status of emerging magnetic tape and optical disk standards, as well as NIST's contributions in support of these standards.

Podio, Fernando L.↗