Jasmine S. NahorniakMark R. AbbottRicardo M. LetelierCurt Vandetta

Bridges to the Community

NASA grant NNG05GA73GInternational EOS/NPP Direct Broadcast Meeting 2005

The stations are ideal candidates to act as regional learning centers.

Direct broadcast stations act as a bridge between real-time satellite data and the user community.

We have a responsibility to provide accurate documentation, instruction, and support.

Roadmap

A case study: • The OSU direct broadcast station • Major software transition• User impact

Bridging the gap• Educating the community• Regional Learning Centers

The Oregon State UniversityThe Oregon State UniversityDirect Broadcast StationDirect Broadcast Station

• located in Corvallis, Oregon on the west coast of the United States

• operational since February 2001

• satellite data are collected from MODIS (TERRA and AQUA)

Station objectives:

• collect, process, and disseminate real-time MODIS oceans data

• all data (real-time and archived) freely available online, by ftp, and by subscription

• user-friendly data access

http://picasso.coas.oregonstate.edu/ORSOO/MODIS/DB/

orbitdata

oceansmetdata

oceansSSTdata

Key:

SUN

SGI

PC

Linux

1

2

3

4

12:00

12:30

14:00

GSC &browser

PC

PC

passcollection

Linux

SUN

L1bL2 oceansreal-time

SGI

outsideusers

camera

ftpserver

webserver

database

ERSDEM2

Linux

main scripts,RT-STPS,

GBADSUN

reprocessing

SGI

Early 2004:

MODIS science team restructured

TERRA MODIS processing suspended

oceans code responsibility transferred from the University of Miami to the Ocean Color team (NASA)

Implications for direct broadcast:

TERRA MODIS processing not fully supported

major software change

orbitdata

oceansmetdata

oceansSSTdata

Key:

SUN

SGI

PC

Linux

1

2

3

4

12:00

12:30

14:00

GSC &browser

PC

PC

passcollection

Linux

SUN

L1bL2 oceansreal-time

SGI

outsideusers

camera

ftpserver

webserver

database

ERSDEM2

Linux

main scripts,RT-STPS,

GBADSUN

reprocessing

SGI

Processing Level

Level 0Raw data converted into a time-ordered set of packets (PDS)

Level 1bCalibrated radiances at 36 wavebands

Level 2Ocean products at 1 km resolution (not mapped)

Level 3Daily equal-area maps of ocean products

ImagesThumbnails and larger images representing the data

Processing Level

raw 0

0 1b

1b 2

2 3

images

Software (platform)

RT-STPS - NASA (SUN)and GBAD – NASA (SGI)

MODIS Level 1 Processing Software for Direct Broadcast

Data - NASA (SGI)

MODIS ocean data processing code – University of Miami (SGI)

MS2GT, SIMAP, IDL,ENVI, Matlab (SUN)

Original configuration

Processing Level

raw 0

0 1b

1b 2

2 3

images

Software (platform)

RT-STPS - NASA (Linux)and GBAD - NASA (Linux)

SeaDAS - NASA (Linux)

New configuration

Processing Level

raw 0

0 1b

1b 2

2 3

images

Software (platform)

RT-STPS - NASA (SUN)and GBAD - NASA (SGI)

MODIS Level 1 Processing Software for Direct Broadcast

Data - NASA (SGI)

MODIS ocean data processing code – University of Miami (SGI)

MS2GT, SIMAP, IDL,ENVI, Matlab (SUN)

Original configuration

Software (platform)

RT-STPS - NASA (Linux)and GBAD - NASA (Linux)

SeaDAS - NASA (Linux)

New configuration

Pros:

Compatible with NASA

Simple installation and updates

Easier to implement

Runs on Linux PCs (less expensive than SUN/SGI)

No software licenses required

Simplifies processing

The TransitionThe Transition

Cons:

Requires complete overhaul ofthe processing system

TERRA MODIS oceans processing supported but not validated

Output filenames, formats, and contents are different than before

Data users will be affected

Original files New files

Impact on our data users:

Filename change

File contents change

File sizes and spatial coverage change

New algorithms

TERRA MODIS not validated

How do we ease transitions like this?

Users need access to:

Accurate, online documentation

Technical support

Software tools

Training classes

The Bridge

What have we learned from our users?

large data files

excessive documentation

software tools provided

consistency (data files, software, different satellites)

online instruction (documentation, teaching modules)

online discussion groups with prompt replies http://ocforum.gsfc.nasa.gov

different users have different needs

This 2-day workshop attracted 40 participants from across the United States as well as Canada, Peru, Chile, and the United Kingdom.

A combination of talks and hands-on-tutorials covering a variety of software tools.

The itinerary focused on the file formats, contents, and software for viewing and manipulating the data.

The information presented in the 2003 workshop is now largely obsolete – a repeat workshop should be organized, focusing on the new file formats.

What did we learn from the workshop?

Many attendees wanted to know:“Which software should I use?”

• a wide variety of software is available for data processing

• users were confused and intimidated by the variety of choice

Different users have different needs:

• some want to create pretty pictures

• others want in-depth knowledge of the data and software

• it is difficult to cater to both types of user at a single workshop

Suggestions for future workshops

Cater workshops to different types of users (basic vs. advanced)

Hold workshops at / near direct broadcast stations

Customize the workshops to topics of regional interest

Yearly or biennial workshops

EOS direct broadcast stations are currently located at 101 locations in 28 countries.

The stations at these disperse locations are ideal for acting as regional learning centers.

Pros:

Globally distributed

Main data users usually local

Station technicians know more about their data than anyone

Incorporate regional environmental issues

Outreach to the community

Attract more researchers, better research, and funding

Regional Learning CentersRegional Learning Centers

Cons:

Each workshop must be custom-made

Someone has to organize it!

Conclusion

A major software transition in progress at the Oregon State University direct broadcast station, brought issues of user impact to the forefront.

The utilization of existing direct broadcast stations as regional learning centers would both serve the needs of the users as well as provide a forum for public outreach.

Acting as bridges between satellite data and the scientific community, direct broadcast stations should play a larger role in educating the public.