Search NASASearch

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “User's Guide”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5

Empowering Geothermal Research: The Geothermal Data Repository's New AI Research Assistant: Preprint

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) team has integrated a Large Language Model (LLM) with the metadata and supporting documents associated with GDR datasets to create an Artificially Intelligent (AI) research assistant. By leveraging work done to make GDR metadata machine-readable and an open-source LLM integration model called the Energy Language Model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, AskGDR serves as a virtual research assistant to GDR users. It provides answers to a variety of user-provided questions using natural language processing and generative machine learning. Users can get answers to questions about specific datasets, including inquiries about the equipment, assumptions and methodologies used in the origination of the data; or more abstract questions, such as the applicability of data to specific research fields. AskGDR improves the discoverability of geothermal data by helping guide users to datasets beyond simple keyword searches. It enables users to find data based on properties of the data, discover information contained within supporting documents, and explore data from projects related to their research objectives.

access

Empowering Geothermal Research: The Geothermal Data Repository's New AI Research Assistant

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) team has integrated a Large Language Model (LLM) with the metadata and supporting documents associated with GDR datasets to create an Artificially Intelligent (AI) research assistant. By leveraging work done to make GDR metadata machine-readable and an open-source LLM integration model called the Energy Language Model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, AskGDR serves as a virtual research assistant to GDR users. It provides answers to a variety of user-provided questions using natural language processing and generative machine learning. Users can get answers to questions about specific datasets, including inquiries about the equipment, assumptions and methodologies used in the origination of the data; or more abstract questions, such as the applicability of data to specific research fields. AskGDR improves the discoverability of geothermal data by helping guide users to datasets beyond simple keyword searches. It enables users to find data based on properties of the data, discover information contained within supporting documents, and explore data from projects related to their research objectives. This paper will outline the development, integration, output, and efficacy of the AskGDR LLM, including adherence to scientific rigor through improvements designed to increase the accuracy of generated answers, avoid speculation, and provide proper references for all resources used.

access

Malcolm Deployment Guide for Solar Power Generation Plants

This guide provides detailed instructions for deploying Malcolm in Solar Power Generation systems. It covers the deployment process, from understanding the network architecture of these systems to configuring network switches and Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) ports or mirror ports or TAPs. The guide also includes best practices for deploying Hedgehog sensors, another critical component in these systems. Following this guide, users can enhance network visibility, improve their system’s security, and effectively troubleshoot common issues.

14 SOLAR ENERGY

Characterizing and communicating uncertainty: lessons from NASA’s Carbon Monitoring System

Navigating uncertainty is a critical challenge in all fields of science, especially when translating knowledge into real-world policies or management decisions. However, the wide variance in concepts and definitions of uncertainty across scientific fields hinders effective communication. As a microcosm of diverse fields within Earth Science, NASA’s Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) provides a useful crucible in which to identify cross-cutting concepts of uncertainty. The CMS convened the Uncertainty Working Group (UWG), a group of specialists across disciplines, to evaluate and synthesize efforts to characterize uncertainty in CMS projects. This paper represents efforts by the UWG to build a heuristic framework designed to evaluate data products and communicate uncertainty to both scientific and non-scientific end users. We consider four pillars of uncertainty: origins, severity, stochasticity versus incomplete knowledge, and spatial and temporal autocorrelation. Using a common vocabulary and a generalized workflow, the framework introduces a graphical heuristic accompanied by a narrative, exemplified through contrasting case studies. Envisioned as a versatile tool, this framework provides clarity in reporting uncertainty, guiding users and tempering expectations. Beyond CMS, it stands as a simple yet powerful means to communicate uncertainty across diverse scientific communities.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

ACDC (Automated Campbell Diagram Code) [SWR-26-042]

This application provides a web-based graphical user interface to generating Campbell Diagrams and visualizing mode shapes for OpenFAST turbine models. Determining the aeroelastic stability and dynamic characteristics of wind turbines is a critical step in turbine design and analysis. Historically, extracting natural frequencies and mode shapes from OpenFAST—the industry-standard whole-turbine simulation code—has been a fragmented and tedious process. It required manual model configuration, command-line linearization execution, and complex post-processing via proprietary scripts to handle rotating-frame dynamics. To address these workflow bottlenecks, we present the Automated Campbell Diagram Code (ACDC), an open-source graphical software tool developed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) under the DOE-funded Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling (dWAM) project. ACDC streamlines the end-to-end linearization and stability analysis workflow into a single, intuitive cross-platform application. The software guides users through OpenFAST model configuration, definition of operating points, and the automated execution of steady-state trim and linearization simulations. Under the hood, ACDC automates the complex mathematical post-processing steps required for rotating systems, including Multi-Blade Coordinate (MBC) transformations, eigenanalysis, and advanced modal tracking utilizing the Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC) and spectral clustering. Finally, ACDC processes these results to automatically generate Campbell diagrams and features a robust 3D visualization engine to animate full-system mode shapes. By eliminating the reliance on external post-processing environments and manual data manipulation, ACDC significantly accelerates dynamic analysis and lowers the barrier to entry for wind energy researchers and engineers.

Summerville, Brent [National Laboratory of the Roc

The CMS Statistical Analysis and Combination Tool: Combine

This paper describes the Combine software package used for statistical analyses by the CMS Collaboration. The package, originally designed to perform searches for a Higgs boson and the combined analysis of those searches, has evolved to become the statistical analysis tool presently used in the majority of measurements and searches performed by the CMS Collaboration. It is not specific to the CMS experiment, and this paper is intended to serve as a reference for users outside of the CMS Collaboration, providing an outline of the most salient features and capabilities. Readers are provided with the possibility to run Combine and reproduce examples provided in this paper using a publicly available container image. Since the package is constantly evolving to meet the demands of ever-increasing data sets and analysis sophistication, this paper cannot cover all details of Combine. However, the online documentation referenced within this paper provides an up-to-date and complete user guide.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS

Using stable isotopes to inform water resource management in forested and agricultural ecosystems

Present and future climatic trends are expected to markedly alter water fluxes and stores in the hydrologic cycle. In addition, water demand continues to grow due to increased human use and a growing population. Sustainably managing water resources requires a thorough understanding of water storage and flow in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems. Measurements of stable isotopes of water (hydrogen and oxygen) in the water cycle (atmosphere, soils, plants, surface water, and groundwater) can provide information on the transport pathways, sourcing, dynamics, ages, and storage pools of water that is difficult to obtain with other techniques. However, the potential of these techniques for practical questions has not been fully exploited yet. Here, we outline the benefits and limitations of potential applications of stable isotope methods useful to water managers, farmers, and other stakeholders. We also describe several case studies demonstrating how stable isotopes of water can support water management decision-making. Finally, we propose a workflow that guides users through a sequence of decisions required to apply stable isotope methods to examples of water management issues. We call for ongoing dialogue and a stronger connection between water management stakeholders and water stable isotope practitioners to identify the most pressing issues and develop best-practice guidelines to apply these techniques.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Tutorial: Machine-Learning-Based CREASE-2D Analysis of 2D SAXS Profiles to Characterize Anisotropic Nanostructures in Soft Materials

We present a tutorial to guide users on how to extend the Computational Reverse Engineering Analysis of Scattering Experiments-2D (CREASE-2D) framework to interpret their experimental two-dimensional small-angle scattering (SAS) data from soft materials (e.g., polymers, peptide amphiphiles, biomolecular fibrils). Unlike most traditional SAS analysis approaches, which typically rely on azimuthally averaged onedimensional (1D) profiles, CREASE-2D utilizes the complete 2D scattering profile to reveal information about anisotropy in the structure. In past applications, CREASE has provided insights into complex structural features, including the cross-sectional shapes of assembled nanostructures and dispersity in these features, which are difficult to discern with existing analytical models. While (1D- ) CREASE has been applied to SANS and SAXS data, this tutorial shares the steps for implementing CREASE-2D using an example of a dipeptide solution system, for which we have SAXS data. We present details for these steps involved in using CREASE-2D to interpret SAXS profiles: how to preprocess SAXS data, define relevant structural features, generate three-dimensional real-space structures for specific values of these features, train a machine learning (ML) surrogate model to predict scattering profiles for given structural features, and optimize these features using genetic algorithms (GA). Then, we use these steps to interpret complex 2DSAXS data collected from dipeptide solutions that, in microscopy images, exhibit nanoscale structures that could be elliptical tubes/ flat tapes/cylinders or a combination of these cross sections. Open-source codes, computational hardware, and software requirements, as well as the strengths and limitations of this protocol, are also presented. We expect researchers working with (soft) biomaterials, peptide amphiphiles, amphiphilic polymer solutions, polymer nanocomposites, and blends of particles/polymers will find this CREASE-2D method and this tutorial of use.

CREASE

Accessible, uniform protein property prediction with a scikit-learn based toolset AIDE

Summary Protein property prediction via machine learning with and without labeled data is becoming increasingly powerful, yet methods are disparate and capabilities vary widely over applications. The software presented here, “Artificial Intelligence Driven protein Estimation (AIDE)”, enables instantiating, optimizing, and testing many zero-shot and supervised property prediction methods for variants and variable length homologs in a single, reproducible notebook or script by defining a modular, standardized application programming interface (API), i.e. drop-in compatible with scikit-learn transformers and pipelines. Availability and implementation AIDE is an installable, importable python package inheriting from scikit-learn classes and API and is installable on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Many of the wrapped models internal to AIDE will be effectively inaccessible without a GPU, and some assume CUDA. The newest stable, tested version can be found at https://github.com/beckham-lab/aide_predict and a full user guide and API reference can be found at https://beckham-lab.github.io/aide_predict/. Static versions of both at the time of writing can be found on Zenodo.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Optimizing injection for the storage ring proton-EDM experiment

The proposed proton electric dipole moment (pEDM) experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), to be built inside the alternating gradient synchrotron (AGS) tunnel, aims to measure the proton’s electric dipole moment with a sensitivity of 10 −29 𝑒 cm. This paper presents the design of the injection line from the AGS booster to the pEDM storage ring, utilizing portions of the existing booster-to-AGS (BtA) transfer line. Building on the symmetric-hybrid lattice design [, Comprehensive symmetric-hybrid ring design for a proton-EDM experiment at below 10 −29 𝑒 cm, Phys. Rev. D 105, 032001 (2022)], our study emphasizes rigorous optics matching, detailed particle and spin tracking, and systematic error mitigation essential for achieving a target sensitivity of 10 −29 𝑒 cm. This design preserves the proton’s vertical spin orientation within ±20 mrad, a critical requirement for the pEDM measurement. Particle and spin tracking simulations using the ray-tracing code Zgoubi [F. Méot, Zgoubi users’ guide, Technical Report, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), Upton, NY, 2012] validate the design’s performance, demonstrating its feasibility for this precision experiment. The simulation results demonstrate that both clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) injection lines meet the stringent beam envelope and polarization requirements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Distribution System Operations: A Tutorial and Survey

Here, the rapid evolution of modern electric power distribution systems into complex networks of interconnected active devices, distributed generation (DG), and storage poses increasing difficulties for system operators. The large-scale integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the rapid exchange of measurement data via communication networks present major opportunities for advancing grid operations but also introduce greater uncertainty, higher data dimensionality, more complex network and device models, and challenging control and optimization problems. Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms are promising in addressing these challenges. However, they have not been effectively adapted for power systems applications, requiring extensive customization for implementation and evaluation. This has resulted in reproducibility challenges and a steep learning curve for researchers new to applying DRL algorithms to the power systems domain. To bridge these gaps, this tutorial aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers interested in exploring learning-based algorithms to operate active power distribution networks. Specifically, this work presents a generalized process for translating sequential decision-making problems in power distribution systems into Markov decision process (MDP) formulations, illustrated through concrete grid service examples. Additionally, we introduce a simple environment design strategy to develop and evaluate example DRL algorithms for distribution system applications, complete with an included code repository to guide users through environment construction.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

RAIS Preliminary Remediation Goals for Chemicals

Chemical preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) (https://rais.ornl.gov/cgibin/prg/PRG_search?select=chem) are calculated by selecting the applicable chemical(s) together with the applicable media, land use, and exposure route combination. If “site-specific” is selected as the PRG type, the following page will show the equations and exposure parameters used for deriving the PRGs, and some of the parameter values may be changed as necessary. If “default” is selected as the PRG type, the RAIS will proceed directly to the results page. Multiple chemicals can be selected. Results can be downloaded in .xlsx or .pdf formats. Additionally, the session inputs for the PRG calculator can be saved for future use and recalled by the PRG calculator. The derivation of the selected PRG and the applicable equations and exposure parameters can be reviewed in more detail using the RAIS Chemical PRG Calculator User Guide (https://rais.ornl.gov/tools/rais_chemical_prg_guide.html).

Manning, Karessa [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O

RAIS Preliminary Remediation Goals for Radionuclides

Radionuclide PRGs (https://rais.ornl.gov/cgi-bin/prg/PRG_search?select=rad) are calculated by selecting the applicable radionuclide(s) together with the applicable media, land use, and exposure route combination. If “site-specific” is selected as the PRG type, the following page will show the equations and exposure parameters used for deriving the PRGs, and some of the parameter values may be changed as necessary. If “default” is selected as the PRG type, the RAIS will proceed directly to the results page. Multiple radionuclides can be selected with this tool. Results can be downloaded in .xlsx or .pdf formats. Additionally, the session inputs for the PRG calculator can be saved for future use and recalled by the PRG calculator. The derivation of the selected PRG(s) and the applicable equations and exposure parameters can be reviewed in more detail using the RAIS Radionuclide PRG Calculator User Guide available here: https://rais.ornl.gov/tools/rais_rad_prg_guide.html. html.

Manning, Karessa [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O

Volumetric Soil Moisture Measurements at the Teller 27 Site, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2022-2023

The Teller 27 watershed on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, has been well characterized by the NGEE Arctic project. The study site is underlain by discontinuous permafrost that is thawing as the climate warms. As a result, the site is experiencing a short-term wetting trend as a perched water table above the remaining permafrost provides plant available water during the growing season. Soil moisture patterns drive microbial activity and plant species compositions including plant density and height. This study aimed to understand how soil moisture patterns were influenced by tundra microtopography. To accomplish this, we placed a strategic network of soil moisture sensors in micro-highs, micro-lows, and control areas under different vegetation types within the Teller 27 watershed from summer of 2022 through fall of 2023. This data was used in conjunction with other soil data from the Teller 27 watershed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of soil moisture patterns in a rapidly thawing discontinuous permafrost region. This dataset includes six *.csv files: four of time series soil moisture data, one of field soil moisture data, and one of site conditions. The dataset also includes one *.kml file of the watershed and the soil moisture sensor sites as well as this user guide to provide details on data collection and processing methods. NGEE Arctic Project Summary The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy’s Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Soil Texture and Organic Matter from Teller Field Site and Barrow Environmental Observatory, Alaska, 2024

Understanding soil texture and organic matter content supports our understanding of hydrology and ecology of Arctic sites. Soil organic matter content and composition of sand, silt, and clay were measured from soils collected at the Teller 27 field site on the Seward Peninsula and at the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, on August 2nd and 6th 2024, respectively. Soil samples were collected from the active layer to varied depths. Precise location data were collected at each observation point using Avenza Maps on a mobile device. Sand, silt, clay, and organic matter percentages were measured at Desert Research Institute Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory in Reno, NV. This dataset contains a *.csv file of soil properties, a *.kml file of measurement locations, a *.pdf user guide, a *.csv data dictionary, and a *.csv file level metadata.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

High-resolution leaf area index maps generated from unoccupied aerial system, Teller Mile 27, Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Leaf area index (LAI), a measure of the amount of one-side leaf area per ground unit, is an important indicator of plant carbon, energy, and water cycle. In the heterogeneous Arctic landscapes, it has been challenging to accurately measure LAI across species and space needed for Earth system model validation. Here, we use multispectral unoccupied aerial systems (UASs) to scale up and map leaf area index (LAI) , in a low-Arctic tundra landscape on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. We linked previous published LAI measurements with high-resolution, UAS-collected multispectral data collected over the region of Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments in the Arctic (NGEE Arctic)’s Teller Mile Maker 27 site in 2022 to develop random forest (RF) machine learning models to predict and map LAI. 100 RF models were developed to account for uncertainties in ground LAI plot measurements and process scaling. This dataset includes a raster (*.tif) map of the mean LAI value of the 100 RF models, a raster (*.tif) map of the standard deviation of the RF-modeled LAI data, and a user guide (*.pdf).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

SPRUCE Methane Transport in Plants at S1 Bog, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, 2017-2019

This data set contains measurements of methane (CH4) transport by plants (both ground-layer and trees) and diffusion, as well as whole-plot emissions, taken in September 2018 and June 2019 in S1 Bog outside of the SPRUCE (Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments) experimental enclosures. Additionally, CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) stable isotope data in porewater and atmospheric emissions were taken in July 2017 in the SPRUCE enclosures to explore the relative magnitude of CH4 oxidation. Episodic ebullition rates for S1 Bog are taken from Gill et al. (2017). Methane transport is an important component of many ecosystem models of peatlands. The results were compared to two methane models that have been developed for the SPRUCE project, ELM-SPRUCE (Earth Land Model) and TECO_SPRUCE (Terrestrial ECOsystem model). This dataset contains six data files in comma separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: six data dictionaries and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES