The Land Processes DAAC Science Advisory Panel held a regular meeting at the USGS EROS Data Center (EDC) on November 5-7, 1996. Attending were a quorum of Panel members and alternate members, as well as meeting participants and interested observers from EDC, NASA, and EOSDIS Core System (ECS) contractor, Hughes Information Technology Systems (HITS).
Land Processes DAAC Project Scientist and Panel Co-Chair, Bryan Bailey, opened the meeting by reviewing the meeting agenda, as well as highlights of the last Panel meeting. Bailey also noted that points of emphasis for the present meeting would include EOSDIS replan activities, 1997 DAAC activities, and setting DAAC priorities. Panel members and DAAC staff reviewed outstanding action items from the last meeting, including the status of letters addressing the role of international ground stations in the Landsat 7 data acquisition strategy, an ASTER Level 1 expedited data system at the Land Processes DAAC, and concerns about potential budgetary impacts of free data.
John Daucsavage, Land Processes DAAC ECS Engineering Liaison, presented operations plan overviews for ASTER, MODIS, and Landsat 7. He did this in the context of: 1) flow of command generation; 2) flow of pre-DAAC science data processing; and 3) flow for the Land Processes DAAC and user interface for each of the three sensors.
John Dalton presented the Panel with information on the EOSDIS Replan. He stressed that the details are not final, and that replanning includes input from the stakeholders. He pointed out that the ECS science data processing segment is currently projected to slip from December 1996 to May 1997 for Release A TRMM. The impacts on AM-1/Landsat-7 Release B are being analyzed, and the Replan is to be completed by mid-December. He stated that flight operations segments and EDOS are on schedule to support AM-1, and that replanning assumes continued support of MTPE launch schedules. Factors contributing to the slip were underestimation of code size at CDR, COTS software incompatibilities across vendor platforms, difficulty in recruiting and retaining expertise in key technologies, and the discovery that planned recovery through parallel development is not feasible due to serial dependencies.
Dalton's presentation precipitated discussion on a variety of issues. The Panel expressed concern about potential negative impacts on the DAAC resulting from slips in EOSDIS schedules. Panel members are particularly concerned about the apparent lack of subsetting capabilities being planned for B.0, and they are concerned about the lack of capabilities to conduct Science Software Integration and Test (SSI&T) at Release A. The Landsat 7 Project and the DAAC took actions to further address these issues.
The Panel again discussed the data pricing policy for DAAC data, which is an issue about which it previously had expressed concern. While the Panel strongly supports broad distribution of data and products, it is concerned that "no cost" data encourage the non-serious user to order large volumes of data and products simply because they are free. As a result, an undue burden is placed on DAAC resources, and service to the serious user is negatively impacted. Some (small) cost may need to be charged for data and products to discourage frivolous use.
Instrument Team updates were presented by Panel members representing ASTER, MODIS, and Landsat 7, and a summary of recent SAR-related activities also was presented. In addition, DAAC staff reported on specific DAAC-MODIS and DAAC-ASTER activities of particular interest that have occurred since the last Panel meeting. Notably, an updated land/sea mask produced from the World Vector Shoreline and Digital Chart of the World data sets has been completed, and Requests for Quotations for the ASTER DEM standard data product generation software have been distributed, with recommendations for award anticipated by mid-February.
The second day of the meeting was devoted largely to review of DAAC activities, discussion of FY 1997 plans, and prioritizing future activities. DAAC staff made presentations on 1996 data distribution statistics, DAAC user services status and plans, the DAAC's "integrated" (ECS and non-ECS) staffing plan for the at-launch time frame, and the DAAC's Topographic Data Sets Project, including announcement that the Global 1-km DEM Data Set has been completed and is available via ftp from the DAAC. The data set, which has been named GTOPO30, soon will be available on CD-ROM.
DAAC Manager, Lyn Oleson, presented an overview of the FY 1997 DAAC Work Plan covering non-ECS AM-1 and ongoing activities. His presentation focused largely on the proposed FY 1997 budget both in the context of ESDIS guidance and the following categories of DAAC activities: DAAC management, engineering and development, data set acquisition and ingest, mission support, and data and information services. Oleson's presentation led to considerable discussion, including debate over what relative emphasis should be placed on ingesting data sets into the IMS versus making them accessible via web pages. The Panel concluded that because the IMS will be the user interface for EOS data, emphasis must be placed on populating the IMS. Earlier, the Panel had encouraged the DAAC to strongly resist accepting additional data sets without accompanying funding and available personnel resources to take on the data set, and to ensure that there is little or no negative impact on its "at-launch readiness" from accepting additional data sets. During this discussion, the Panel readdressed the topic of what data sets should be brought into the DAAC and under what conditions. It requested the DAAC to confer with NASA in developing a policy, including criteria and funding options, for bringing new, non-EOS data sets into the DAAC. Finally, the Panel offered a few specific recommendations on the proposed DAAC budget.
The final morning of the meeting was devoted largely to summation and action item review. Current Panel Co-Chair, Tony England, has asked to step down from that position due to time constraints. The Panel accepted Tony's request and expressed gratitude for his service. The Panel appointed Chris Justice to serve as new Co-Chair. Justice led a discussion that attempted to assess the relationship between the DAAC and its Science Advisory Panel. Those aspects that have worked well were noted, as were areas where improvement would benefit the DAAC in its efforts to meet the needs of the land science community. Specific ideas for facilitating needed improvement were offered.
The next meeting of the Land Processes DAAC Science Advisory Panel will be held in April, 1997.