**[NASA Earth Science Applications Program]{.smallcaps}**

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*Geospatial Interoperability*

***Program Plan: 2003-2007***

![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.1902777777777778in"
height="0.9840277777777777in"}*Science for Society*

> *Accelerating the realization of economic*
>
> *and societal benefits from Earth science,*
>
> *information, and technology ...*

**Cross Cutting Solutions:**

**Geospatial Interoperability**

*Program Plan: 2003-2007*

1.  **Purpose and Scope**

[Earth Science Applications Program]{.underline}

The purpose of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) is to increase our
knowledge of the Earth system, including its response to natural and
human-induced changes to enable improved predictions of climate,
weather, and natural hazards. ESE and the Earth Science Applications
Program serve NASA and Society by expanding and accelerating the
realization of societal and economic benefits from Earth science,
information, and technology research and development.

The overarching goal of the Earth Science Applications Program is to
bridge the gap between Earth science research results and the adoption
of data and prediction capabilities for reliable and sustained use in
decision support.

The Enterprise works through partnerships with public, academic, and
private organizations to develop innovative approaches for using Earth
science information and technology. The Earth Science Applications
Program enhances the availability, interoperability, and utility of
Enterprise and private sector data sets, communications, computing, and
modeling capabilities to serve specific applications of a national
priority.

Overall, the approach is to enable the assimilation of Earth science
data and model outputs to serve as inputs to national and international
decision support tools and assessments. Program activity may be specific
to a national application or may be served through a crosscutting
solution. The outcomes and impacts are manifest in enhanced decision
support tools and the social and economic benefits gained through
improved decision-making, public information, and efficient and
effective management.

[Cross Cutting Solutions Program]{.underline}

The goal of the Cross Cutting Solutions component is to provide the
Enterprise and the other elements of the NASA Earth Science Applications
Theme with systems engineering support that leads to scalable, systemic,
and sustainable solutions and processes.

The objective is to support the Earth Science applications of national
priority in transitioning Earth system science results into specific
thematic assessments and decision support tools that serve society.
Cross cutting activities include integrated benchmarked systems,
solutions networks, geospatial interoperability, and human capital
development. The desired impact for the resulting networks, standards,
prototypes, processes, guidelines, and outreach is for the partner
organizations and their customers to benefits from operational use of
Earth science in serving their decision-making processes.

The implementation process of the Program employs the functional steps
of *evaluation*, *verification and validation*, and *benchmarking* in
working to bridge the gaps from the research domain to the operational
domain. Selected applications and related projects proceed through one
or all of the following steps depending on maturity at the time of
selection:

-   Evaluation -- Identify decision support tools (assessments and DSSs)
    that have been developed by Federal agencies and other partners that
    are a priority to citizens of our nation and that can be enhanced by
    NASA ESE results. Develop the specifications for how the candidate
    DSS can be augmented by assimilating NASA ESE observations and
    predictions.

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-   Verification -- A life cycle process to ensure the products being
    developed meet the stated specifications (functional, performance,
    and design).

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-   Validation -- A process to ensure the completed products (software,
    algorithm, model) effectively serve the functional requirements.

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-   Benchmark -- A standard by which a product can be measured or judged
    (i.e., How did the DSS that assimilated NASA measurements compare in
    its operation, function, and performance to the earlier version?).
    The benchmarking process is required to support adoption of
    innovative solutions into operational environments that affect life
    and property.

The desired impact for the resulting prototypes, processes, and
documentation is for the partner organizations and their customers to
derive value from the benefits of the operational use of Earth science
in serving their decision-making processes.

2.  **Objectives and Approach**

    1.  **Program Objectives and Performance Goals**

The Geospatial Interoperability program is responsible for enabling the
development and promotion of geospatial interoperability through
standards in the interest of increased understanding and decision-making
in support of the Earth Science Enterprise and the National
Applications.

The program focuses on seamless access to data, applications of data,
and enabling technologies furthering the interoperability of disparate
data. The development and promotion of interoperability within the Earth
Science Applications Program enables all involved with Earth systems
science to make decisions and develop for the future based on the whole
of the information as opposed to the parts.

Through partnerships with government, private industry, education,
tribal and communities the Geospatial Interoperability program works
towards enhancing the Earth Science Applications Division in the area of
applications of a national priority and decision support tools. The
program participates in the E-Government Initiative, providing
leadership to one of the Geospatial One Stop modules, representing NASA
on the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Coordination Working
Group and chairing the FGDC's Geospatial Applications and
Interoperability Working Group (GAI), representing NASA in the OpenGIS
Consortium and ISO TC211, and participateing in Research and Development
efforts, which are currently with Space Time Tool Kit and Landsat Global
Mosaic Web Mapping.

The Geospatial Interoperability program's objective is to enable the
ESE, government, industry, scientists and citizens to gain knowledge or
make decisions by better application of earth science and geographic
information through geospatial standards leadership, intergovernmental,
industry and international alignment and outreach and education.

The program's customers include all NASA centers, programs at those
centers including ESDIS, SEEDS and ESTO, and ESIP Federation and
Synergy. The program provides agency focus for Federal Mandates such as
E-Governments Geospatial One Stop, collaborates with FGDC, IEEE,
ISPRS/ASPRS and ESRI. The program represents NASA\'s interests in the
OpenGIS Consortium of which NASA is a strategic member.

2.  **Approach and Methodology for Attaining Objectives**

The Geospatial Interoperability program is implemented through the
Geospatial Interoperability Office (GIO) located at Goddard Space Flight
Center. GIO's approach to implementing the program is based on
evaluation, verification and validation and benchmarking in a process
designed to ensure the progress of geospatial interoperability
throughout ESE and NASA.

GIO assesses areas within Earth Science Applications and NASA along with
other Federal, state and local agencies in which interoperability is
necessary, begins communications and develops a strategy in which to
educate, develop and implement geospatial interoperability. The
development and implementation process is accomplished through
memberships, partnerships and participation in groups and organizations,
which are working towards the same interoperability goals.

FY03 Deliverables

![](media/image3.wmf)

## Actions Taken/ Status To Date

In the past year, since this office has been established, the GIO has
partnered with FGDC, and involved thirteen Federal Agencies in the GAI
WG, adopted the responsibility of Acting Executive Director for GOS,
accepted the leadership role for the GOS Portal Design and
Implementation, facilitated Landsat Global Mosaic in remaining on-line,
participated in OGC standards development and testbeds and worked with
ISO TC211 as part of the US delegation.

## NASA Planned Contributions

Geospatial One Stop Initiative, (GOS), one of the twenty four
E-Government initiatives, and the GOS Portal development is currently
being managed by the GIO Program Office.

As chair of the FGDC Geospatial Applications and interoperability
Working Group GIO partners with multiple Federal Agencies, private
industry, education and state and local governments in the interest of
developing geospatial interoperability standards.

NASA's influence as a strategic member in the OpenGIS Consortium (OGC),
and ISO TC211 is crucial to the focus and development of geospatial
interoperability standards being universally adopted.

Research and development projects including Landsat Global Mosaic WMS,
NASA Viewer and Space Time Toolkit all aid in the development, education
and implementation of geospatial standards.

GIO's education and outreach is accomplished through information on the
GIO and GAI web sites as well working groups and speaking engagements.

## Resources, Schedule and Project Descriptions

3.  **Project Descriptions**

-   Geospatial One Stop (GOS) is one of the twenty-four initiatives of
    the Federal Governments E-Government mandate. GIO is currently
    involved in GOS as Acting Director along with leading one of the
    five modules in GOS portal design and implementation. The GOS portal
    will provide easy interoperable access to geospatial information for
    all sectors.

-   The Federal Geographic Data Committees (FGDC) Geospatial
    Applications and Interoperability Working Group (GAI) is chaired by
    GIO and is made up of thirteen Federal Agencies all committed to
    interoperability standards. Through GAI the Geospatial
    Interoperability Reference Model (GIRM) has been created and will be
    included in Procurement language for all Federal agencies. The GAI
    also participates in and sponsors testbeds, pilot projects,
    workshops and influences the Federal Enterprise Architecture Program
    Management Office (FEA-PMO).

-   GIO is advancing ongoing technology through research and development
    of the Space Time Toolkit, Landsat Global Mosaic Web Map Services
    (WMS), NASA Web Map Viewer, Immersive Workbench, and E-Theater.

    -   Space Time Toolkit is a Java-based toolkit that provides
        advanced capabilities for integrating spatially and temporally
        disparate data within an interactive 3D display environment,
        allowing one to ingest swath, map-projected, station, event, or
        path data in whatever spatial and temporal domain in which it
        exists. The STT then allows the end-user to select the 2D or 3D
        display domain and then on the fly maps all data into that
        domain as needed.

    -   Landsat Global Mosaic WMS is being built by JPL as
        orthorectified scenes by Earthsat, as the data becomes available
        from Stennis Space Center. The first application for this WMS
        mosaic was for the Geospatial Information for Sustainable
        Development (GISD) Pilot and demonstrated at the World Summit on
        Sustainable Development (WSSD). The pilot was sponsored by
        several US and international agencies, coordinated by the Open
        GIS Consortium, with multiple public and private
        implementations.

    -   NASA Web Map Viewer was developed by the GIO office with the
        intention of employing interoperability standards. The viewer
        accesses multiple maps from different servers then overlays them
        seamlessly.

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-   OpenGIS Consortium & ISO TC211 are the two standards bodies in which
    GIO is currently involved and acts as the agency. As a strategic
    member in OpenGIS (OGC) GIO participates in directing the standards
    development based on the garnering of NASA wide interests. GIO also
    contributes in the writing, editing and voting process of
    interoperability standards in NASA's interest. NASA, through GIO,
    directly sponsors many of the testbed and pilot projects generated
    through OGC. ISO TC211 works towards the standardization of digital
    geographic information. GIO represents NASA as part of the US
    delegation to ISO TC211 through development of technical standards
    and US adoption of those standards. The ISO TC211 program of work is
    to establish a structured set of standards for information
    concerning objects or phenomena that are directly or indirectly
    associated with a location relative to the Earth.

-   The education and outreach efforts of GIO include standards
    awareness and training of interoperability standards for
    Applications. GIO will attempt to complete some of its education and
    outreach through leveraging its partnerships with other Federal
    agencies and it's professional memberships. The rest of the
    education and outreach work will be accomplished through web sites,
    conferences, and presentations.

##  {#section .unnumbered}

## Resources (FY2003 through FY2008)

Resources required for the Geospatial Interoperability program are
detailed in Table 1.

  ------------------ ---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
  Geospatial                                                           
  Interoperability                                                     

  Fiscal Year                                                          

  03                 04         05           06           07           08

  1.8                2.15       2.3          2.35         2.4          2.45
  ------------------ ---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

**Table 1. Resource Requirements, FY03 -- FY08.**

FY2003 resources have been broken out per project; FY2004 through FY2007
is in outline form.

**FY2003 Resources**

Geospatial Standards Leadership

> Standards Management/Coordination of NASA Centers \$200K
>
> Technical Editor or Standards \$25K
>
> NASA sponsored testbed management \$100K

Geospatial One-Stop

> NASA contribution \$200K

Research & Development

> Landsat Global Mosaic \$300K
>
> NASA Viewer \$75K
>
> Space Time Toolkit \$100K
>
> E-Theater \$25K
>
> Immersive Workbench \$25K

National Activities

> Geospatial Interoperability Pilots \$250K
>
> Beta Version \$100K
>
> Workshops, Meetings \$17K
>
> DE2003 \$20K

NASA Level II Activities

> National & NASA web \$2K
>
> FGDC, OGC, TC211, GeoData Alliance \$100K
>
> Education & Outreach \$50K

Program Support

> Contractor \$150K
>
> ADP/Supplies/Phones \$10K
>
> GSFC MPS Tax -- CS & Contractor [\$52K]{.underline}

FY2003 \$1,801M

2.  FY2004 -- FY2007 Resources

Geospatial Standards Leadership \$360K

Geospatial One-Stop \$200K

Research & Development \$525K

National Activities \$550K

NASA Level II Activities \$1.7M

Program Support [\$350K]{.underline}

FY2004 -- FY2007 \$3.685M

3.  **FY04 Program Deliverables**

Geospatial interoperability and standards development will continue to
be an important focus area. Emphasis will continue on ensuring
compliance of all NASA data sets with FGDC standards. Work should
initiate on metadata standardization for NASA models. OGC compliant test
bed activities (new developments and upgrades) will continue.

**Geospatial One Stop --** Development and benchmark for a portal to the
Geospatial One Stop enabling all geospatial data layers associated with
the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and other national and globally
recognized data layers to be accessible through a common interface and
protocols.

**Comprehensive Integrated Earth Observations System** - Framework of
standards and interoperability for a global comprehensive integrated
Earth observations system as defined by the Earth Observations Task
Force of the CENR.

**Integrated Virtual Earth System** - Framework of standards and
interoperability for a globally recognized integrated virtual Earth
system as defined and developed by the community of practice through
collaborative leadership from NASA, NOAA, NSF and other national and
international agencies and organizations.

**EOSDIS, SEEDS, and related Data Distribution and Handling Systems** -
Framework of standards and interoperability for all NASA, NOAA, USGS,
and other national and international data handling and distribution
systems.

# Appendix

Links:

Ames Research Center: <http://www.arc.nasa.gov/>

Dryden Flight Research Center: <http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/>

ESIP Federation and Synergy:
[[http://www.esipfed.org/aboutus.html]{.underline}](http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/)

FGDC Geospatial Applications & Interoperability Working Group:
<http://gai.fgdc.gov/>

Federal Enterprise Architecture Program Management Office (FEA-PMO):
<http://www.feapmo.gov/>

Glenn Research Center: <http://www.grc.nasa.gov/>

GSFC ESTO: http://esto.nasa.gov/

GSFC ESDIS: <http://spsosun.gsfc.nasa.gov/eosinfo/Welcome/index.html>

GSFC E-Theater: <http://etheater.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html/>

GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio Immersive Workbench:
<http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html>

GSFC SEEDS: <http://lennier.gsfc.nasa.gov/seeds/index.html>

ISO TC211: http://www.isotc211.org/

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: <http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/>

Johnson Space Center: <http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/>

Kennedy Space Center: <http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/>

Langley Research Center: <http://www.lrc.nasa.gov/>

Marshall Space Flight Center: <http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/>

NASA Web Map Viewer: <http://viewer.digitalearth.gov/>

OpenGIS Consortium: <http://www.opengis.org/>

Space Time Toolkit: <http://vast.uah.edu/>

SSC ES Applications Directorate:
[http://www.esad.ssc.nasa.gov/Default.asp?bhfv=2&bhfx=6.0%20r47&bhje=1](http://www.esad.ssc.nasa.gov/Default.asp?bhfv=2&bhfx=6.0 r47&bhje=1)

Wallops Flight Facility: <http://www.wff.nasa.gov/>