Importance and Incorporation of User Feedback in Earth Science Data Stewardship

Authors

  • Hampapuram Ramapriyan Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD; Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD
  • Jeanne Behnke Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-024

Keywords:

Data Systems, User Feedback, Usability Assessment, User Working Groups, NASA EOSDIS, DAAC

Abstract

Since August 1994, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) has been serving a global community of users, currently over 4 million each year, with Earth science data in a variety of disciplines. NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System Project (ESDIS) is responsible for EOSDIS with its 12 Distributed Archive Centers (DAACs). During the life of EOSDIS, various mechanisms for user feedback have been extremely important and valuable to its evolution. Some inputs from user groups have resulted in fundamental changes in EOSDIS, while others have provided ideas for incremental changes. The purpose of this paper is to share this experience and the benefits that have resulted from the user feedback. Notable among user community groups that have had significant influence on EOSDIS are: the EOSDIS Advisory Panel, the National Research Council’s Committee on Global Change Research and the DAAC User Working Groups (UWGs). In addition, an annual survey of EOSDIS users resulting in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) provides a score as well as very helpful user suggestions for system improvements. Also, each DAAC has a user services group that receives on-going requests for help and other comments from users. The ESDIS Project has established a mechanism through the “earthdata” web site (http://earthdata.nasa.gov) for users to provide feedback which is routed to appropriate individuals. In addition, focused efforts have been made for user needs assessment, and usability studies are used in making changes to the systems for improving user experience.

Author Biographies

Hampapuram Ramapriyan, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD; Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD

Hampapuram Ramapriyan is a Research Scientist/SME at Space Science and Applications, Inc. Until August 2014, he was the Assistant Project Manager of the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, which is responsible for archiving and distribution of most of NASA’s Earth science data. His most recent focus is on data preservation and stewardship. He leads an international project team for the development of an ISO standard that specifies contents to be preserved with Earth observation data and derived digital products. He is a member of the Earth science Information Partners (ESIP) Data Stewardship Committee, and chairs the Information Quality Cluster. He chairs NASA Earth Science Data System Working Groups’ Data Product Developers’ Guide Working Group and is the co-chair of the Data Quality Working Group. He is a Senior Member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society during 2014-2017. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Jeanne Behnke, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

Jeanne Behnke serves as the Deputy Project Manager for Operations of the Earth Science Data and Information System Project at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. She oversees the daily operations of the NASA Earth science data processing and archive systems. She has worked for NASA for over 33 years.

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Published

2019-06-24

Issue

Vol. 18 (2019)

Section

Practice Papers

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Copyright (c) 2019 The Author(s)

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