Progress Report: Year One (10/15/04 -- 10/14/05)

NASA Grant NNG05GA61G

**Background**

We proposed to both advance space science knowledge as well as research
advanced visualization tools for space science and education by
integrating and extending the state-of-the-art in hardware and software
technologies. Our three-pronged science approach builds on our central
strengths in planetary geoscience, as well as the basic NASA research
and exploration theme for \"Follow the Water\" for Mars, and thus will
provide scientifically credible direction for tool research and
scientific discovery. Our three basic themes are understanding Mars
polar evolution, Mars tropical glaciers, and Noachian Hydrological
Cycle.

Geologists explore the Earth primarily through fieldwork and analysis of
the geological record at various points on the surface of the Earth.
They then integrate these individual points of understanding about the
Earth\'s surface through more synoptic analysis, often aided by the
integrating perspectives seen from image and topographic data acquired
from Earth orbit. Decades of field experience by the PI on volcanic
eruptions, the Earth\'s sea floor, and in the Antarctic Dry Valleys have
shown this to be the case and how this perspective can be augmented by
helicopter or remote-operated vehicle perspective.

Planetary geoscientists commonly work toward an understanding in the
reverse order. The distances and times involved dictate that the first
data from individual moons and planets comes from flybys and orbital
spacecraft, perhaps in some cases evolving towards the deployment of a
few landers and rovers, and for the Moon, human explorers. Now that we
have global data sets for the Moon, Mars, and Venus, comprehensive
regional data sets for many of the outer planet satellites, and soon to
be obtained global data for Mercury, we can begin to undertake the
detailed exploration of planetary surfaces that is required for the full
understanding of the evolution of planets.

How do we accomplish this? Fortunately, developments in advanced
computation, visualization, and immersive virtual reality environments
have created the ability to place the geoscientist back down on and near
the surface to visit virtually any part of the planet they wish to see,
and to regain the perspective that is the foundation for the
understanding of the geological relationships necessary to unlock the
record of the history of the planets.

This work extends the state-of-the-art in advanced visualization tools
for solar system exploration, provides educational tools for teaching
planetary science, reports results from user studies on the efficacy of
our ideas, and lays the groundwork for achieving longer term goals
beyond the scope of this proposal.

**Relevance to NASA**

These efforts help to fulfill the fundamental goals and objectives of
the NASA AISR Program, and address the major goals of NASA as an Agency,
including the President's Exploration Initiative.

Relevant technologies: Interactive 3D terrain visualization with very
large data sets (high resolution topography, image and related data);
telepresence; telecollaboration.

**Current Applications**

1\. Science Analysis:

-   Analysis of Mars North Polar deposits and layering, strike/dip
    measurements, climate change implications.\*

-   Analysis of Mars dichotomy boundary major degradation processes.\*

-   Analysis of structure and morphology of tropical mountain
    glaciers.\*

2\. Mission Planning:

-   NASA/JPL North Polar Reference Design Mission (Palmer Quest)
    traverses.\*

3\. Teaching at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level:

-   Geology 16: Freshman seminar "Exploration of Mars" (21 students).

-   Geology 5: "Earth, Moon and Mars" (\~120 students).

-   Geology 291: "Problems in Mars Climate History" (10 students).

-   Geology 292: "Problems in Antarctic Geoscience" (5 students).

4\. Demonstrations:

-   Illustrating concepts and capabilities to interested parties and
    visitors \[DOE (LANL, ORNL); NASA (GSFC, JSC, JPL, LaRC, HQ); NOAA
    (NCAR); Brown; RISD; IBM; Discovery Channel "The Planets", etc.\].

(\*Results reported at 36th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference,
Houston,Texas, March 2005.)

**First-Year Accomplishments**

1.  Imported and visualized [multiple data sets]{.underline}: MOLA
    altimetry, Viking, MOC, THEMIS and HRSC image data sets,

2.  Started to produce [wind vectors and values]{.underline} for
    different seasonal atmospheric and climate conditions.

3.  Placed [18 geoscientists and engineers]{.underline} (faculty, JPL,
    graduate students) on the surface of Mars to address scientific
    problems.

4.  Developed important aspects of the [Field Kit]{.underline} (field
    location, strike and dip determination, instant altimetry and
    profiles, traverse recording, etc.) and provided the geoscientists
    with these tools in the IVR environment.

5.  Began development of [ancillary field instruments]{.underline} (e.g.
    virtual photography, virtual GPS, and the PDA field notebook) and
    will provide the geoscientists with these tools in the IVR
    environment.

6.  [Integrated ROAM 2]{.underline} rendering system into IVR
    environment; built toolkit on top of it.

7.  Provided support for [non-immersive desktop]{.underline} and
    immersive display environments.

8.  [Integrated ArcMap]{.underline} to formalize the initial correlation
    of data sets for enhancing data preparation for importing to
    immersive environment.

9.  [Developed tablet PC]{.underline}: Integrated pen-based user
    interface with immersive visual terrain.

10. Produced [New Science Results]{.underline} for Mars (see
    references).

11. Applied to NASA/JPL North Polar [Mission Design]{.underline} (Palmer
    Quest).

12. Wrote paper ADVISER: Immersive Scientific Visualization Applied to
    Mars Research and Exploration" outlining our plans and results for
    Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing special issue on Mobile
    Mapping Systems.

**Current Capabilities**

1\. Interactive fly-through (30+ stereo fps) of 8k x 8k DEM.

2\. Import data through ArcMAP

-   MOC, THEMIS, HRSC images.

-   MOLA topography.

3\. Import and began display of General Circulation Model simulation
data:

4\. Field Kit and Virtual Field Instruments:

-   Many capabilities developed.

-   Queries (elevation, dip/strike, terrain profiles, etc.)

-   Compass, Lat/Lon, Traverse Planner and Traverse Map.

**Upcoming Plans**

1.  Incorporation of the IVR facility for an Engineering course on
    mission design.

2.  Integration with navigation system: How to plan for field work and
    establish traverse planning highlights with ArcInfo in order to
    optimize the planned input to the IVR facility.

3.  Develop tool functionality in a desktop version.

4.  Develop initial mechanisms for tele-collaborative viewing within
    Brown.

5.  Develop initial mechanisms for tele-collaborative viewing outside of
    Brown at NASA and with other users.

6.  Develop data management solutions for 'out of core' data sets.

7.  Develop techniques so that large data sets have low impact on
    interactivity (high frame rate and low latency).

8.  Continue debriefing by users.

9.  Complete Education and Public Outreach proposal and submit.

10. Extend to three additional science themes and topics.

**Tracking**

1\. Undergraduate university students filled out forms on their use and
analysis of the facility and made suggestions for improvement.

2.  Graduate students have discussed and described their experiences
    with students and faculty with all IVR facility personnel in
    attendance. More detailed reports are underway.

3.  Interested undergraduates are doing hands-on work to be sure that
    the latest 'video-game-like' rapid response controls are properly
    considered.

**Application to NASA and Missions Programs**

1.  Palmer Quest, a NASA Nuclear Mission Design Study in conjunction
    with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The facility was used to
    site landing sites on the North Polar Cap of Mars, to design
    traverses with the companion rover, and to verify design and
    traverse trafficability and capability.

2.  NASA Office of Space Science research programs as described above.

3.  NASA Astronaut Candidate Training: -Using for site selection and
    traverse planning for a human reference mission to Mars for broad
    concept certification and NASA Astronaut training.