A System of Systems Approach for Integrated Global Environmental Monitoring
- Paper number
IAC-08.B1.6.1
- Author
Mr. Ron Birk, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Brian Baldauf, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Richard Ohlemacher, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Industry supports the government in developing, deploying, and operating spaceborne and airborne Earth observation systems and technologies used to ensure national security. Components and architectures for a global observing system of systems that integrate data collected from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites with Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms are assessed for their capacity to provide essential science data to be used in real-time weather, forecasting of long-term climate change, and monitoring of hazards. The assessment looks at configurations of satellites that include NPOESS and GOES R augmented by UAS vehicles such as Global Hawk, configured to deliver innovative environmental data collection capabilities over a range of environmental conditions, including severe hazards, such as hurricanes and extreme wildland fires. The approach is to evaluate configurations based on metrics that include their level of sustainability, interoperability, capacity for their science data products to be integrated with evolving Earth science models and relevant decision support tools, and life cycle plans. Climate trends are increasing needs for monitoring capacity to inform effective forecasting and response. Engineering assessments of system robustness, reliability, and sustainability are conducted. Initial results indicate high altitude and long dwell time of the Global Hawk platform provide a key contribution to the calibration and validation of space-based data streams through “ground truth” at high spatial, temporal, and radiometric accuracies. The performance of the current and planned systems configurations are evaluated against several factors that include long term capacity for measuring essential climate variables (ECVs). Emphasis is given to achieving enhancements to capacity to measure global changes associated with climate, deliver well-calibrated and validated data for weather forecasting, and capacity to effectively deliver timely information associated with a range of hazards. An approach to formulating an enterprise architecture that brings together space and airborne systems with ground and ocean observing sensors as a vertically integrated global observing system for climate-related measurements and determination of uncertainties is described.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B1.6.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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