An Analytic Collaborative Framework for the Earth System Observatory Designated Observables (ESO)

MOTIVATION: NASA's Earth System Observatory ground breaking observations will provide critical measurements to address societal relevant problems in climate change, natural hazard mitigation, fighting forest fires, and improving real-time agricultural processes. Central to the ESO vision is the notion of Open-Source Science (OSS), a collaborative culture enabled by technology that promotes the open sharing of data, information, and knowledge aiming to facilitate and accelerate scientific understanding, and the agile development of applications for the benefit of society. The larger vision of an Earth System Digital Twin (ESDT) set forth in the AIST solicitation is the linchpin for the implementation of OSS at NASA. It calls for integrated Earth science frameworks that mirror the earth by a proxy digital construct that includes high resolution earth system models and data assimilation systems along with integrated set of analytic tools to enable the next generation of science discoveries and evidence-based decision making. Among the many applications of these frameworks is the design of future observing systems, from selection of space mission architectures, to the exploration of science and societal applications, well before launch. Thus, realistic simulations of the future measurements become a necessity if a mature OSS environment is to become available early in the lifetime of the mission, this way maximizing the impact and societal benefits of NASA observations. OBJECTIVES: Our ultimate vision is to develop an Analytic Collaborative Framework for ESO missions, based on realistic, science-based observing system simulations and the Program of Record (PoR). Tying it all together is a cloud based cyberinfrastructure that will enable each uniquely designed satellite in the Earth System Observatory to work in tandem to create a 3D, holistic view of Earth. In this proposal, we lay the technological ground work for enabling such a vision. TECHNICAL APPROACH: Our approach consists on the 3 main interconnected building blocks: 1) Cloud-optimized representative datasets for ESO missions and the PoR to serve as basis for developing and prototyping an Analytic Collaborative Framework. 2) An Algorithm Workbench for enabling experimentation and exploration of synergistic algorithms not only for instruments within a mission, but also including the PoR and other ESO missions. 3) A series of concrete Open-Source Science demonstrations including use cases that span science discovery and end-user applications with direct societal impact. While our ultimate goal is include all of the main missions comprising the Earth System Observatory, in our initial 2 years we will focus on AOS and SBG, two missions for which specific synergisms have been identified in a recent workshop. RELEVANCE: The proposed effort directly addresses the AIST solicitation by developing a cloud-based Analytic Collaborative Framework for the ESO missions. In doing so it enables investigative technologies to facilitate ''what-if'' investigations inherent to ESDT systems. Our framework will enable global cloud-resolving OSSEs that significantly contributes to the exploration of synergistic new algorithms, enables trade studies during mission development, and provides a transparent mechanism for early engagement of the applications and scientific communities at large. In addition, such capabilities make a direct contribution to NASA's emerging Open-Source Science Initiative.

Advance Earth system science knowledge through the Identification, develop, and demonstrate innovative information systems technologies

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.