# Presentation: 540482

## The MODIS Rapid Response Project

- Jacques Descloitres1, Rob Sohlberg2, John Owens2, Louis Giglio1,
- Chris Justice2, Mark Carroll4, John Seaton3, Missy Crisologo2
- Mark Finco5, Keith Lannom5, Tom Bobbe5

- 1NASA/GSFC Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
- 2University of Maryland, Department of Geography
- 3NASA/GSFC Science Applications International Corporation
- 4University of Maryland, Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
- 5USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center
- Support from Ed Masuoka (NASA/GSFC Terrestrial Information Systems Branch), Tim Gubbels (NASA-HQ Natural Hazards applications program), and Vince Salomonson (NASA/GSFC MODIS Team Leader)

## Background

- The complexity of the ECS production and distribution system does not always permit **rapid access** to MODIS data – System contingencies may significantly delay data availability
- The most optimistic data turnaround is acceptable for some but not all applications: Level-1B data not available earlier than 24-48hrs, Level-2 available a few days later, Level-3 composite products 8/16 days later
- Rapid data access is most critical at least in two areas: **active fire detection** and **PR imagery**
- Manual workarounds have been developed in 2000 to provide rapid PR imagery to the Earth Observatory in response to specific events
- Expedited active fire information derived from MODIS was handcrafted and provided to the Forest Service to document fires in Montana/Idaho during summer 2000

## Approach

- To develop a **rapid **and **flexible **processing and distribution **user-driven** system as an alternative to the ECS system
- To provide **enhanced PR** **and outreach** for some of the unique capabilities of MODIS
- To generate value-added science-quality products to **augment the MODIS standard products** – Initial emphasis on combined Active Fire Detection / Corrected Reflectance product
- To** reuse** existing software, hardware and expertise (e.g., ESIP-funded MODIS 250m Production System, MODIS Land Global Browse Processing System)
- Develop** applications partnerships **with other agencies (e.g., USDA Forest Service)

## System Characteristics

- MODIS Level-0 data from NOAA’s** **NRT System (using existing “bent pipe” feed mechanism used to generate weather products)
- L0 data processed with IMAPP software (DAAC processing code modified for Direct Broadcast applications)
- Geolocation derived from spacecraft attitude and ephemeris data – No definitive attitude
- No real-time ancillary data necessary
- Processing system **fully automated** – No operator
- Corrected reflectance and active fire locations produced within **2-5hrs** **of data acquisition** and automatically sent to Rapid Response distribution site and to partners

## MODIS Rapid Response Project: Design

- MODIS
- L0 Data

- Active Fire and
- Corrected Reflectance
**http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov**

- Cumulative Fire Maps
**http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac**

- Active Fire
- Locations

- Burn Severity Maps
- Handcrafted Imagery

- L1B Data

- December 2001

- Active Fire Locations
- Selected Imagery

- Web Fire Maps and Fire Feature Server
**http://rapidresponse.umd.edu**

- Backup Feed
- L1B Data

- Active Fire Locations
- GOFC Fire Partners

- NASA Earth
- Observatory
**http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov**

**T+2-5hrs**

**T+30min**

- Updated twice daily

**T+5hrs**

**T+5hrs**

- MODIS home page
**http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov**

## Distribution Approach

- RGB imagery with Active Fire overlay is archived and distributed to the public by the Rapid Response System at NASA/GSFC
- Near-real-time imagery: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/production/ (full production)
- Selected handcrafted imagery: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/
- On-line archive – No ordering interface
**Straightforward “point-and-click” web interface**
- Application-specific products distributed by partners (e.g., web fire maps by University of Maryland, cumulative fire maps by Forest Service)
- Privileged relationship developed with selected science image publishers to increase product visibility: Earth Observatory, Visible Earth, MODIS home page, Science Visualization Studio

## Example of Active Fire / Corrected Reflectance ProductStar fire in California (08/29/01)

## Example of Active Fire / Corrected Reflectance ProductRodeo fire in Arizona (06/19/02)

## Example of Active Fire / Corrected Reflectance ProductSiberia (05/22/01)

## Example of 250m Corrected Reflectance ProductHurricane Erin (09/11/01)

## Example of Corrected Reflectance ProductDust Storm in Western Africa (05/08/01)

## Example of 250m Corrected Reflectance ProductBrazil/Bolivia (08/02/01)

## Example of 250m Vegetation IndexRondonia, Brazil (08/02/01)

## MODIS Rapid Response Products used by Fire Managers

**USFS Remote Sensing Applications Center** (Salt Lake City, Utah): Provider of geospatial and remote sensing support to USFS and related agencies
**National Interagency Fire Center** (Boise, Idaho): National coordination center for all federal and state wildfire resources
**USFS Fire Science Lab, Rocky Mountain Research Station **(Missoula, Montana): Smoke forecasting and fire behavior research
**Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Teams**: Federal inter-agency program to mitigate impacts on water quality and ecology

- MODIS provides a new synoptic view at high resolution and gives the “big picture” to planners for resource allocation
- Remote sensing avoids limitations of airborne platforms (heavy smoke, limited flight resources, limited geographic coverage)
- Helps focus reconnaissance resources and prepare rehabilitation work on the ground

## Slide 15

## Blue Complex Fire16 August 2001

**California**

**Nevada**

**Oregon**

**Active Fire in RED****      ****Previously Burned in YELLOW**

## MODIS Rapid Response Systemand Direct Broadcast Applications

- Science products developed to support both DAAC Level-1 data and Direct Broadcast Level-1 data
- Rapid Response processing progressively transitioned to Direct Broadcast
- First field implementation prototyped in December 2001 with USDA Forest Service
- Standard Rapid Response products generated within minutes of acquisition
- Code sharing approach: ongoing effort to make Rapid Response processing available to Direct Broadcast users through Direct Readout Lab at NASA/GSFC
- Active fire detection code distributed in April 2002

## Recent Progress

- Implemented new band combinations to enhance snow/ice, floods, burn scars
- Substantial improvement of input feed from NOAA NRT System since June 2002 (less than 1% data loss)
- Implemented version 4 of active fire detection algorithm
- Implemented a Rapid Response Vegetation Index product
- Developed new partnership with USDA Foreign  Agricultural Service (crop monitoring, food security applications)
- Corrected Reflectance and Vegetation Index products available to Direct Broadcast users in July 2002
- Clustered production system (multi-processor, multi-machine)
- Started transition to NOAA – Waiting for support
- Streamlined image generation process – Increased feed to Earth Observatory (new Natural Hazard section), MODIS home page, Visible Earth, PAO
- Increased PR: 1100+ images sent to Visible Earth database
- Growing popularity: 5675 different visitors and 75000 images downloaded from Rapid Response site in June 2002
- Aqua: first light images processed in Rapid Response System – Still some geolocation issues to solve

## Aqua First Light Northern Australia (06/25/02)

- Aqua First Light Northern Australia (06/25/02)

## Aqua First Light Shark Bay, Australia (06/25/02)

- Aqua First Light Shark Bay, Australia (06/25/02)

## For more information

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov
http://rapidresponse.umd.edu

**http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov**
**http://rapidresponse.umd.edu**