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Issues in Defining Software Architectures in a GIS Environment

The primary mission of the Pan-American Center for Earth and Environmental Studies (PACES) is to advance the research areas that are relevant to NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. One of the activities at PACES is the establishment of a repository for geographical, geological and environmental information that covers various regions of Mexico and the southwest region of the U.S. and that is acquired from NASA and other sources through remote sensing, ground studies or paper-based maps. The center will be providing access of this information to other government entities in the U.S. and Mexico, and research groups from universities, national laboratories and industry. Geographical Information Systems(GIS) provide the means to manage, manipulate, analyze and display geographically referenced information that will be managed by PACES. Excellent off-the-shelf software exists for a complete GIS as well as software for storing and managing spatial databases, processing images, networking and viewing maps with layered information. This allows the user flexibility in combining systems to create a GIS or to mix these software packages with custom-built application programs. Software architectural languages provide the ability to specify the computational components and interactions among these components, an important topic in the domain of GIS because of the need to integrate numerous software packages. This paper discusses the characteristics that architectural languages address with respect to the issues relating to the data that must be communicated between software systems and components when systems interact. The paper presents a background on GIS in section 2. Section 3 gives an overview of software architecture and architectural languages. Section 4 suggests issues that may be of concern when defining the software architecture of a GIS. The last section discusses the future research effort and finishes with a summary.

Acosta, Jesus↗

Urban and regional land use analysis: CARETS and Census Cities experiment package

The author has identified the following significant results. Areas of post 1970 and 1972 land use changes were identified solely from the Skylab imagery from comparisons with 1970 land use maps. Most land use changes identified involved transition from agriculture to single family residential land use. The second most prominent changes identified from the Skylab imagery were areas presently under construction. Post 1970 changes from Skylab were compared with the 1972 changes noted from the high altitude photographs. A good correlation existed between the change polygons mapped from Skylab and those mapped from the 1972 high altitude aerial photos. In addition, there were a number of instances where additional built-up land use not noted in the 1972 aerial photo as being developed were identified on the Skylab imagery. While these cases have not been documented by field observation, by correlating these areas with the appearance of similar land use areas whose identity has been determined, we can safely say that we have been able to map further occurrences of land use change beyond existing high altitude photo coverage from the Skylab imagery. It was concluded that Skylab data can be used to detect areas of land use change within an urban setting.

Alexander, R. H.↗

Loran-C plotting program for plotting lines of position on standard charts

A set of programs used to plot Loran C lines of position on any common map or standard aviation sectional chart are given. The Loran C plotting program JRPLOT FORTRAN uses a standard Calcomp compatible plotting subroutine package for the Hewlett-Packard 7203A graphic plotter. The programs are designed to be run on an IBM System 370 computer. A simple add subtract method is used to calculate the lines of position. A description of how to use the program and some methods of operation are given.

Roman, J. P.↗

As-built design specification for MISMAP

The MISMAP program, which is part of the CLASFYT package, is described. The program is designed to compare classification values with ground truth values for a segment and produce a comparison map and summary table.

Brown, P. M.↗

Loran-C plotting program for plotting lines of position on standard charts

A set of programs designed to be run on the IBM System/370 computer is described. These programs are used to plot Loran-C lines of position (LOP) on any common map or standard aviation sectional chart. The Loran-C plotting program JRPLOT FORTRAN uses a standard Calcomp-compatible plotting subroutine package for the Hewlett-Packard 7203A graphic plotter. A general description of the features of the Loran-C plotting program. This program involves a simple add/substrate method to calculate the LOP. A description on how to use the program and some methods of operation are included.

Roman, J. P.↗

Digital processing system for developing countries

An effort was undertaken to perform simple digital processing tasks using pre-existing general purpose digital computers. An experimental software package, LIGMALS, was obtained and modified for this purpose. The resulting software permits basic processing tasks to be performed including level slicing, gray mapping and ratio processing. The experience gained in this project indicates a possible direction which may be used by other developing countries to obtain digital processing capabilities.

Nanayakkara, C.↗

Increasing Access and Usability of Remote Sensing Data: The NASA Protected Area Archive

Although remote sensing data are now widely available, much of it at low or no-cost, many managers of protected conservation areas do not have the expertise or tools to view or analyze it. Thus access to it by the protected area management community is effectively blocked. The Protected Area Archive will increase access to remote sensing data by creating collections of satellite images of protected areas and packaging them with simple-to-use visualization and analytical tools. The user can easily locate the area and image of interest on a map, then display, roam, and zoom the image. A set of simple tools will be provided so the user can explore the data and employ it to assist in management and monitoring of their area. The 'Phase 1 ' version requires only a Windows-based computer and basic computer skills, and may be of particular help to protected area managers in developing countries.

remote sensing↗

Calibration of the ROSAT HRI Spectral Response

The ROSAT High Resolution Imager has a limited (2-band) spectral response. This spectral capability can give X-ray hardness ratios on spatial scales of 5 arcseconds. The spectral response of the center of the detector was calibrated before the launch of ROSAT, but the gain decreases with time and also is a function of position on the detector. To complicate matters further, the satellite is 'wobbled', possibly moving a source across several spatial gain states. These difficulties have prevented the spectral response of the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) from being used for scientific measurements. We have used Bright Earth data and in-flight calibration sources to map the spatial and temporal gain changes, and written software which will allow ROSAT users to generate a calibrated XSPEC (an x ray spectral fitting package) response matrix and hence determine a calibrated hardness ratio. In this report, we describe the calibration procedure and show how to obtain a response matrix. In Section 2 we give an overview of the calibration procedure, in Section 3 we give a summary of HRI spatial and temporal gain variations. Section 4 describes the routines used to determine the gain distribution of a source. In Sections 5 and 6, we describe in detail how, the Bright Earth database and calibration sources are used to derive a corrected response matrix for a given observation. Finally, Section 7 describes how to use the software.

Prestwich, Andrea H.↗

The ALEXIS data processing package: An IDL based system

The Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (ALEXIS) experiment consists of a mini-satellite containing six wide angle EUV/ultrasoft x-ray telescopes. Its purpose is to map out the sky in three narrow (approximately 5 percent) bandpasses around 66, 71, and 93 eV. The 66 and 71 eV bandpasses are centered on intense Fe emission lines which are characteristic of million degree plasmas such as the one thought to produce the soft x-ray background. The 93 eV bandpass is not near any strong emission lines and is more sensitive to continuum sources. The mission will be launched on the Pegasus Air Launched Vehicle in the second half of 1992 into a 400-nautical-mile, high inclination orbit and will be controlled entirely from a small ground station located at Los Alamos. The project is a collaborative effort between Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, and the University of California-Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory. The six telescopes are arranged in three pairs. As the satellite spins twice a minute they scan the entire anti-solar hemisphere. Each f/1 telescope consists of a spherical, multilayer-coated mirror with a curved, microchannel plate detector located at the prime focus. The multilayer coatings determine the bandpasses of the telescopes. The field of view of each telescope is 30 degrees with a spatial resolution of 0.5 degree, limited by spherical aberration. The data processing requirements for ALEXIS are large. Each event is one of the six telescopes is telemetered to the ground with its time of arrival and position on the detector. This information must be folded with the aspect solution for the satellite to reconstruct the direction on the sky from which the photon came. Because of the way the six telescopes scan the sky, the effective exposure calculation is also very computationally intensive. ALEXIS may generate up to 100 megabytes of raw data per day, which are converted into a gigabyte per day of processed data. While the processing job for ALEXIS is sizable, the programming staff is small. To maximize programming efficiency, and to make the best use of tools available in the public domain, we chose IDL as our software development platform. IDL was used from the start of instrument development through flight. We use IDL as a top-level executive for the processing tasks (replacing Unix shell scripts), as a device independent graphics engine, as a database manager, and as a final data manipulator. IDL routines spawn special purpose C programs to perform detailed telemetry deconvolution and other specialized functions. We discuss the use of IDL and C within the processing and archiving strategy for the ALEXIS data anlaysis system as implemented on a SPARCstation platform. We also show results from our End-to-End software simulation capability as processed by our analysis codes.

Bloch, J. J.↗

Comparison of three methods for materials identification and mapping with imaging spectroscopy

We are comparing three methods of mapping analysis tools for imaging spectroscopy data. The purpose of this comparison is to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each algorithm so others would be better able to choose the best algorithm or combinations of algorithms for a particular problem. The three algorithms are: (1) the spectralfeature modified least squares mapping algorithm of Clark et al (1990, 1991): programs mbandmap and tricorder; (2) the Spectral Angle Mapper Algorithm(Boardman, 1993) found in the CU CSES SIPS package; and (3) the Expert System of Kruse et al. (1993). The comparison uses a ground-calibrated 1990 AVIRIS scene of 400 by 410 pixels over Cuprite, Nevada. Along with the test data set is a spectral library of 38 minerals. Each algorithm is tested with the same AVIRIS data set and spectral library. Field work has confirmed the presence of many of these minerals in the AVIRIS scene (Swayze et al. 1992).

Clark, Roger N.↗

Geophysical interpretation of Venus gravity data

The investigation of the subsurface mass distribution of Venus through the analysis of the data from Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) is presented. The Doppler tracking data was used to map the gravitational potential, which was compared to the topographic data from the PVO radar (ORAD). In order to obtain an unbiased comparison, the topography obtained from the PVO-ORAD was filtered to introduce distortions which are the same as those of our gravity models. The last major software package that was required in order to determine the spectral admittance Z (lambda) was used. This package solves the forward problem: given the topography and its density, and assuming no compensation, find the resulting spacecraft acceleration along a given nominal trajectory. The filtered topography is obtained by processing these accelerations in the same way (i.e., with the same geophysical inverter) as the Doppler-rate data that we use to estimate the gravity maps.

Reasenberg, R. D.↗

Apollo 17

This is the Press Kit that was given to the various media outlets that were interested in covering the Apollo 17 mission. It includes information about the moon, lunar science, concentrating on the planned mission. The kit includes information about the flight, and the trajectory, planned orbit insertion maneuvers, the extravehicular mission events, a comparison with the Apollo 16, a map of the lunar surface, and the surface activity, information about the Taurus-Littrow landing site, the planned science experiments, the power source for the experiment package and diagrams of some of the instrumentation that was used to perform the experiments.

Garrett, David↗

TriTruss: A New and Novel Structural Concept Enabling Modular Space Telescopes and Space Platforms

Modular structures that can be assembled on-orbit will be the backbone for all future persistent missions, including in-space assembled telescopes and platforms for science and communications. The TriTruss is a new and innovative structural module that has been conceived by researchers at the NASA Langley Research Center for platform and telescope applications. Some of the innovative features of the TriTruss include: very compact packaging for launch, the possibility of staged packaging, simple robotic deployment, ease of embedding payload components, an innovative structural connector that has linear structural performance, ease of module-to-module robotic assembly, design versatility, and ease of customizing its design for specific applications. This paper will introduce the TriTruss concept and describe how it can serve as the foundation for many different mission applications, in particular, a 20-meter diameter large space telescope and a beam-type platform that can host a variety of payloads and instruments. The geometry of the TriTruss will be described and the various truss design variables (such as truss depth, member diameter, material modulus, etc.) and each of their impacts on the truss performance will be illustrated. The TriTruss can be mapped to a variety of structural forms, such as beams, two-dimensional platforms and filled curved apertures (for antennas and telescopes), and examples will be illustrated. The TriTruss lends itself to a large variety of packaging schemes; the structural concepts associated with packaging and deployment will be described, as well as the means for robotically deploying TriTruss modules and locking them into their final configuration. TriTruss module-to-TriTruss module robotic assembly operations will also be described. Equations will be presented to structurally size TriTruss modules, such that when assembled into the final persistent platform, the platform achieves a desired level of global structural performance. A status of the TriTruss development will also be presented. This material will cover design and fabrication of TriTruss hardware for platform and telescope applications as well as structural testing of that hardware (the struts, connectors and platforms). Robotic assembly of TriTruss modules is also being performed, and the results of those tests will be summarized.

Doggett, William↗

Carbon Nanotube-Based Structural Health Monitoring Sensors

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) can be embedded in structures of all geometries to monitor conditions both inside and at the surface of the structure to continuously sense changes. These CNTs can be manipulated into specific orientations to create small, powerful, and flexible sensors. One of the sensors is a highly flexible sensor for crack growth detection and strain field mapping that features a very dense and highly ordered array of single-walled CNTs. CNT structural health sensors can be mass-produced, are inexpensive, can be packaged in small sizes (0.5 micron(sup 2)), require less power than electronic or piezoelectric transducers, and produce less waste heat per square centimeter than electronic or piezoelectric transducers. Chemically functionalized lithographic patterns are used to deposit and align the CNTs onto metallic electrodes. This method consistently produces aligned CNTs in the defined locations. Using photo- and electron-beam lithography, simple Cr/Au thin-film circuits are patterned onto oxidized silicon substrates. The samples are then re-patterned with a CNT-attracting, self-assembled monolayer of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to delineate the desired CNT locations between electrodes. During the deposition of the solution-suspended single- wall CNTs, the application of an electric field to the metallic contacts causes alignment of the CNTs along the field direction. This innovation is a prime candidate for smart skin technologies with applications ranging from military, to aerospace, to private industry.

Wincheski, Russell↗

Lower Mekong Hydrological Decision Support system

The Lower Mekong Hydrological Decision Support system (LMHDSs) is a environmental data analysis tool developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with funding from the SERVIR Applied Sciences Team and technical support from SERVIR Science Coordination Office (SCO). The web application allows stakeholders and decision-makers to view and download the inputs and outputs to the Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT) model temporally and spatially. The front end is developed using JavaScript libraries like OpenLayers and Stock charts and the backend uses Django, a Python-based web framework. The web app provides several features, including visualizing map products, time-series plots, land-use/land-cover and associated soil information, and a data cart for downloading data. In addition, LMHDSs incorporates the NASAaccess software package, which provides seamless access to various climate and weather data products from NASA’s Earth observations portfolio. The application is region agnostic (any valid SWAT model can be used), modular (different components of the applications can be customized), and open (anyone can download and run it on their end). The web app is currently in use by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), a treaty-based regional intergovernmental organization that is made up of Mekong countries, as part of its hydrological decision support.

Hydrology↗

Enhancing the Uranus PlanetGRAM with 2D Zonally-Averaged Atmospheric Variabilities

We developed an open-source Python package (tweModel.py1) that generates the 2D zonally-averaged atmospheric structure of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune to be used as reference bases for NASA’s Planetary Global Reference Atmospheric Model (PlanetGRAM) Suite. The package outputs temperatures, pressures, densities, and zonal winds as functions of altitude and latitude given an input cloud-top zonal wind profile and a zonally averaged temperature map using a discretized form of the geostrophic thermal wind equation (TWE). We present 2D atmospheric structure outputs for Uranus in detail. Our results will be incorporated in the PlanetGRAM Suite to aid in the development of future in-situ missions in the outer solar system including the recently prioritized Uranus Flagship mission.

Uranus↗

The Cooperative VAS Program with the Marshall Space Flight Center

Work was divided between the analysis/forecast model development and evaluation of the impact of satellite data in mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP), development of the Multispectral Atmospheric Mapping Sensor (MAMS), and other related research. The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Synoptic Scale Model (SSM) has progressed from a relatively basic analysis/forecast system to a package which includes such features as nonlinear vertical mode initialization, comprehensive Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) physics, and the core of a fully four-dimensional data assimilation package. The MAMS effort has produced a calibrated visible and infrared sensor that produces imager at high spatial resolution. The MAMS was developed in order to study small scale atmospheric moisture variability, to monitor and classify clouds, and to investigate the role of surface characteristics in the production of clouds, precipitation, and severe storms.

Diak, George R.↗

The Space Technology 7 disturbance reduction system

The NASA New Millennium Program Space Technology 7 (ST7) project was selected for the purpose of flight validation of technology for minimizing disturbances on spacecraft and freely-floating test masses. Measurements of the motion of test masses are used for determining the gravitational field in its location, providing information on the nearby mass distribution or looking gravitational waves generated by distant star systems. Any unmeasured forces acting on the test mass cause a deviation from a purely gravitational trajectory and so limit the accuracy of the gravity field estimation. The ST7 project will validate the capability to eliminate unwanted forces to a level 3000 times lower than the current state of the art. The ST7 design is based on the concept of a freely-floating test mass surrounded by a spacecraft which shields the test mass from unwanted disturbances. since some disturbance of the test mass can be caused by motion of the spacecraft itself with respect to the test mass, the disturbance reduction system includes the capability of precisely measuring the position of the spacecraft with respect to the test mass and control of the spacecraft position to within 1/100 of a wavelength of light.. The overall system performance of the ST7 project will be infused into space observatories for gravitational waves such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna project, and into future mission for mapping the time-variable Earth gravity field. The ST7 precision control capability also has applications for separated-spacecraft interferometric imaging projects. ST7 will consist of an instrument package and a set of microthrusters, which will be attached to the European Space Agency’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft with launch scheduled for 2008.

Folkner, W. M.↗