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Science Data Processing, Analysis, and Visualization
Many science teams are involved in data validation, research, and quality control activities for the missions that JPL manages. As part of these activities, JPL must build systems to retrieve, process, and visualize data. New advances in web, modeling, networking and technologies have enabled researchers at JPL to analyze data in a more timely and meaningful way.
JPL innovations in data systems have led to enhancements in the way that data is delivered from a spacecraft to end user. Oftentimes, science teams who are responsible for analyzing spacecraft data are geographically dispersed and in the past, it has been difficult to get data out to end users in a timely fashion. JPL has been working on data processing and delivery systems to enable virtual science environments in which the data appears local and integrated with science data tools.
JPL visualization teams enhance understanding of—science missions for both scientists and the public through visualization technologies that facilitate the exploration, interpretation, and investigation of science data sets. Visualization projects include a simulation of the Cassini spacecraft’s orbit insertion at Saturn, observations of ground deformation around the Mt. Etna volcano in Sicily and earthquake fault stresses and movement in California.
Selected Research Projects
The JPL TCIS allows users to visualize hurricane tracks, see the intensity of storms, and download plots and data from several earth-observing satellites. Hurricane Helene in 2006 is shown here.
First Light: Science- and Engineering- Data Visualization for Public Engagement
This research effort has focused on creating a library of resources (common spacecraft hardware, star fields, landscapes, etc.) and a common graphics system in coordination with the SPACE Library and Framework tasks in the CSMV (Computer, Simulation, Modeling and Visualization) initiative. The objectives are to double the output of quality animated demonstrations of JPL projects for public outreach and to increase the impact and efficiency of animation task design. A new technology thrust, 3-D real-time interactive visualization is moving toward maturity under the direction of the First Light task, and represents the next big area of technology development and application for visualization at JPL.
JPL Tropical Cyclone Information System
JPL has developed a prototype tropical-cyclone database and web portal of satellite observations, in situ measurements, and model outputs pertaining to the thermodynamic and microphysical structure of the storms, the air-sea interaction processes, and the larger-scale environment. This prototype has four unique features: (1) it is designed to provide a multitude of observations, together with model output, that are relevant to both the large-scale and storm-scale processes in the atmosphere and in the ocean; (2) all storm-scale observations are presented in a common space, centered on the storm locations; (3) the data are organized in a way that easily shows when coincident observations from multiple instruments are available; (4) data, in addition to their graphical representation, are easily obtainable.
Top image: Time-critical product creation, critical for rover safety, is enabled by the Automated Task Invocation Subsystem/Processing Pipeline (Mars Exploration Rover). Bottom image: Atmospheric state maps derived from the new AIRS Level 3 Quantization (L3Q) data product, enabled by advances in data processing and algorithm development.
Ongoing Projects
The Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC)
PO.DAAC is the NASA data center responsible for archiving and distributing data relevant to the physical state of the ocean. Most of the data products are obtained from Earth-observing satellites and are primarily intended for use in scientific research. PO.DAAC is an element of the Earth Observing System Data Information System (EOSDIS). Its primary responsibility is to provide distribution and archive support for NASA's physical oceanography missions such as TOPEX/Poseidon and SeaWinds on QuikSCAT. However, PO.DAAC also collaborates with other institutes to acquire complementary data products and value-added services. Partners currently include the Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) at the Goddard Space Flight Center, the Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), NAVOCEANO, the University of Miami and Brigham Young University.
Science Data Understanding
Researchers engage in research and practice in areas such as the analysis of massive data sets, data mining, mathematical and statistical modeling of complex systems, data visualization, parallel and distributed algorithms, computational and numerical methods, and statistics. They participate in interdisciplinary collaborations throughout JPL, NASA and the wider scientific community, serving on numerous science, research, and flight project teams. For example, they have developed and implemented algorithms for modeling the cosmic microwave background, analyzing massive remote-sensing data sets and comparing these data to the output of global and regional climate models, predicting and understanding patterns in and causes of seismic activity, creating and managing access to massive astronomical catalogs and virtual observatories, and using geographical information systems to assist with landing-site selection for upcoming missions to Mars and the Moon. Their core expertise lies in the ability to develop new analysis methods in response to new problems, thereby enabling JPL scientists and engineers to gain valuable insights that would not be possible otherwise.
Instrument Ground Systems
Ground systems groups are charged with taking care of most JPL ground data systems from the time the data leaves the spacecraft to the time when researchers get data files they can use for their studies. The system’s architecture is a complex network of components that support the science and engineering communities internal and external to JPL. Capabilities and services include data product generation, distribution, archive and access; modeling, simulation and visualization of data products; management of databases, processes, resources and archives; and instrument strategic and tactical operations products.
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