Collaborations and Partnerships in NASA’s Earth Science Data Systems

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2017-051

Keywords:

Data systems, Earth science, Collaboration, Interoperability, Standards, Remote sensing

Abstract

NASA has been collecting Earth observation data from spaceborne instruments since 1960. Today, there are tens of satellites orbiting the Earth and collecting frequent global observations for the benefit of mankind. Collaboration between NASA and organizations in the US and other countries has been extremely important in maintaining the Earth observation capabilities as well as collecting, organizing and managing the data. These collaborations have occurred in the form of: 1. NASA’s developing and launching spacecraft and instruments for operation by other agencies; 2. Instruments from collaborating organizations being flown on NASA satellites; and 3. Instruments from NASA being flown on satellites from collaborating organizations. In addition, there are collaborations such as joint science teams, data exchanges, and participation in international organizations to promote interoperability of various data systems. The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the Earth science data-related collaborative efforts in which NASA participates, and highlight a few results relevant to Earth system science research obtained through such collaborations.

Author Biographies

Hampapuram K. Ramapriyan, Science Systems and Applications, Inc.; and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Hampapuram Ramapriyan is a Research Scientist/Subject Matter Expert at Science Systems and Applications, Incorporated (SSAI). He supports the ESDIS Project at NASA GSFC through its contract with SSAI. The ESDIS Project is responsible for archiving and distributing most of NASA’s Earth science data using EOSDIS, which is a major core component of NASA’s Earth Science Data System Program. Ramapriyan’s primary focus is data stewardship and preservation. Prior to his employment with SSAI, he was the Assistant Project Manager of the ESDIS Project. His responsibilities included management of Science Investigator-led Processing Systems that processed and delivered data to the EOSDIS Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) as well as being the data liaison between the ESDIS Project and the Principal Investigators of the projects under the MEaSUREs (Making Earth System Data records for Use in Research Environments) Program. He is an active member of several of the Earth Data System Working Groups (ESDSWGs), and chairs the Data Quality Working Group, which is one of the ESDSWGs. As an active member of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) since 1998, he is currently the Vice-Chair of its Data Stewardship Committee and Chair of the Information Quality Cluster.

Kevin Murphy, NASA Headquarters

Kevin Murphy is Program Executive for Earth Science Data Systems at NASA HQ. In this capacity Mr. Murphy manages a portfolio of programs encompassing the Distributed Active Archive Centers, Science Investigator-led Processing Systems and a number of competitively funded programs. Prior to assuming his current role Mr. Murphy served as System Architect for EOSDIS, conceived, developed and managed major system development projects that including near real time systems, search engines, large scale visualization system and Earthdata.nasa.gov. Murphy has received numerous awards during his NASA career, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement for Engineering, Charles S. Falkenberg Award, among others.

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Published

2017-11-13

Issue

Vol. 16 (2017)

Section

Practice Papers

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