A Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Benefits of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems

The aim of the Global Earth Observation System-of-Systems (GEOSS) is to improve the information available to decision makers, at all levels, relating to human health and safety, protection of the global environment, the reduction of losses from natural disasters, and achieving sustainable development. Specifically, GEOSS proposes that better international cooperation in the collection, interpretation, and sharing of Earth observation information is an important and cost-effective mechanism for achieving this aim. While there is a widespread intuition that this proposition is correct, at some point the following question needs to be answered: how much additional investment in Earth observation (and specifically, in its international integration) is enough? This leads directly to some challenging subsidiary questions, such as how can the benefits of Earth observation be assessed? What are the incremental costs of GEOSS? Are there societal benefit areas where the return on investment is higher than in others? The Geo-Bene Project has developed a “benefit chain” concept as a framework for addressing these questions. The basic idea is that an incremental improvement in the observing system (including its data collection, interpretation and information-sharing aspects) will result in an improvement in the quality of decisions based on that information. In turn, this will lead to better societal outcomes, which have a value. This incremental value must be judged against the incremental cost of the improved observation system. Since in many cases there will be large uncertainties in the estimation of both the costs and the benefits, and it may not be possible to express them in comparable monetary terms, we show how order-of-magnitude approaches and a qualitative understanding of the shape of the cost and benefit curves can help guide rational investment decisions in Earth Observation Systems.      

GEOSS Architecture Principles and the GEOSS Clearinghouse

The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is composed of diverse component systems contributed by members and participating organizations of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). To enable these diverse components to interoperate, the GEOSS Architecture embodies principles given in the GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan and Reference Document. A basic principle is adoption of international standards and common interoperability arrangements, as seen in the contributed facility known as GEOSS Clearinghouse. GEOSS Clearinghouse acts as a cross-cutting discovery tool, encompassing all registered GEOSS components and external catalogs as well. Together, the GEOSS Architecture and GEOSS Clearinghouse enable GEO members and participating organizations to cooperate in realizing GEOSS. The resulting system of systems is simplifying access to resources for any and all users, including decision makers across the GEO Societal Benefit Areas. This paper explains key GEOSS Architecture principles and how GEOSS Clearinghouse applies international standards and interoperability arrangements.      

An Information Semantics Approach for Knowledge Management and Interoperability for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems

The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is built on current international cooperation efforts among existing distributed earth observing and processing systems. The goal is to formulate an end-to-end process that enables the collection and distribution of accurate, reliable earth observation (EO) data, information, products, and services to both suppliers and consumers worldwide. EOs are obtained from a multitude of sources and require tremendous efforts and coordination among different governments and user groups to come to a shared understanding on a set of concepts involved in a domain. Semantic metadata play a crucial role in resolving the differences in meaning, interpretation, and usage of the same or related data. Also, the knowledge about the geopolitical background of the originating datasets could be encoded in the metadata that would address the diversity on a global scale. In distributed environments like GEOSS, modularization is inevitable. In this paper, we describe the need for an information semantics-based approach for knowledge management and interoperability between heterogeneous GEOSS systems. Further, considering the magnitude of concepts involved in GEOSS, we explore the possibility of using modular ontologies for formulating smaller interconnected ontologies.      

DataFed: An Architecture for Federating Atmospheric Data for GEOSS

DataFed is a distributed web-services-based computing environment for accessing, processing, and rendering environmental data in support of air quality management and science. The flexible, adaptive environment facilitates the access and flow of atmospheric data from provider to users by enabling the creation of user-driven data processing value chains. The approach of DataFed is mediation between users and data providers. DataFed non-intrusively wraps datasets for access by standards-based web services. The mediator software, composed of web services, provides homogeneous data views (e.g., geospatial, time views) using a global multi-dimensional data model. Application software written using web services are data browsers, including Google Earth, and analysis tools for distributed AQ data. Its federated data pool consists of over 100 datasets and the tools have been applied in several air pollution projects. From the point of view of GEOSS, DataFed contributes air quality data (as services) to the shared data pool through the GEOSS Common Infrastructure. It also hosts a Decision Support System (DSS) in the societal benefit area of air quality. The developers of DataFed actively participate in the GEOSS process included work with Architecture and Data Committee (ADC) and the User Interface Committee (UIC) as well as in interoperability experiments.      

PVES: Powered Visualizer for Earth Environmental Science

In this paper, we propose a powered visualizer for earth environmental science (PVES) which can accommodate three-dimensional (3-D) datasets. Though a data integration system called the Information Fusion Reactor for Earth Environmental Science (IFRES) is being developed at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, PVES is a part of the IFRES contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Three key functions are implemented. The first is a rather naive function that allows users to visualize 3-D raw data through Virtual Reality Modeling Language. Second, the user can specify an arbitrary curve over the 3-D dataset and then visualize its cross section. This has been proven to be very powerful for 3-D analyses of flow phenomena. Third, users can easily specify various kinds of related data in IFRES to overlay on the cross section. This function also helps users to understand the flow phenomena deeply through the fusion of information. Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data and its reanalysis data are provided as examples of applicable data in this paper; AIRS data is a satellite sensor product, and reanalysis data is a type of model outputs. We also present some observations extracted with the PVES and confirm effectiveness and usefulness of PVES.      

A System-of-Systems Engineering GEOSS: Architectural Approach

There is an increasing need to perform systems-of-systems engineering (SoSE) in a global environment. A new SoSE Process has been developed which is a significant breakthrough in the development of large complex systems and net-centric systems-of-systems (SoS). The SoSE Process provides a complete, detailed, and systematic development approach for military and civil SoS. This architecture-centric, model-based Systems Engineering Process emphasizes concurrent development of the system architecture model and system specifications. It is applicable to all phases of a system's lifecycle. The significant benefits of developing a system architecture model for GEOSS using the SoSE Process are described. An example of how the process would capture the architecture model of GEOSS is presented.      

基于Java的网络化测试技术研究

本文研究了利用Java语言，Web工具和Interent开发网络化测试系统的技术，本文所述方法是基于面向对象编程，客户／服务器通信结构，采用多用户多仪器方案及互连协议，以实现测试系统的远程配置和监控。 文中详细介绍了网络化测试系统的Java结构和测试方法的软件结构。     

Land-Cover Observations as Part of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS): Progress, Activities, and Prospects

The international land-cover community has been working with GEO since 2005 to build the foundations for land-cover observations as an integral part of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The Group on Earth Observation (GEO) has provided the platform to elevate the societal relevance of land cover monitoring and helped to link a diverse set of global, regional, and national activities. A dedicated 2007–2009 GEO work plan task has resulted in achievements on the strategic and implementation levels. Integrated Global Observations of the Land (IGOL), the land theme of the Integrated Global Observation Strategy (IGOS), has been approved and is now in the process of transition into GEO implementation. New global land-cover maps at moderate spatial resolutions (i.e., GLOBCOVER) are being produced using guidelines and standards of the international community. The Middecadal Global Landsat Survey for 2005–2006 is extending previous 1990 and 2000 efforts for global, high-quality Landsat data. Despite this progress, essential challenges for building a sustained global land-cover-observing system remain, including: international cooperation on the continuity of global observations; ensuring consistency in land monitoring approaches; community engagement and country participation in mapping activities; commitment to ongoing quality assurance and validation; and regional networking and capacity building.      

区域自动气象站多传感器冗余观测技术设计与实现

为实现区域自动气象站探测设备级数据质量控制,从观测源头提高气象探测数据的稳定性、真实性和可靠性,基于现有区域自动气象站技术架构,利用3个气温传感器、3个雨量传感器、2个风传感器及智能控制单元对现有区域自动气象站进行改造,主要实现对气象观测非线性变量(温度、雨量、风向、风速)的多传感器冗余观测,通过设置采集器端前置算法,对同一时刻、同一要素多个探测数据进行阈值交叉验证,得出最优的探测数据。试验结果证明,多传感器冗余观测技术能有效改进单传感器测量结果的不确定性和不稳定性,提高区域自动气象站探测数据的可用率和准确率具有重要意义。     

Microbial biosensors for process and environmental control

For rapid and precise monitoring of the various factors involved in fermentation reactions and environment, it seems entirely sensible to employ the microorganisms themselves, which are highly sensitive to change in their environment. This review has touched upon some of the ways in which microbial sensors might be employed to monitor levels of fermentation substrates, reaction products, nutrients and antibiotics. This account has dealt almost entirely with those microbial sensors that are being investigated and developed in Japan for application to the monitoring of fermentation processes and environmental materials. Much work remains to be done. Sensors that work well under laboratory conditions do not always succeed when placed in industrial media, however, and basic research on sensors using microorganisms and new mutations with improved properties must be backed up by developmental modification and refinement. Despite many attractive properties, only few immobilized enzyme probes have yet been applied in commercial instruments. To date only a very limited number of enzyme-electrode based systems have been introduced. Nevertheless, these and other types of biosensor are indispensable for the efficient operation of numerous biotechnological processes     

Integrated space technology monitoring of mosquitoes and malaria epidemics

Transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, malaria is the world's most deadly vector borne disease. Mortality, currently estimated at over 1 million people per year, is rising. Epidemics account for up to 25% of the disease burden, and these too are increasing. This global resurgence in both incidence of epidemics and their mortality has been attributed to several factors: drug-resistant parasites, insecticide-resistant vectors, population shifts, war-damaged infrastructures, altered meteorological conditions, and drastic ecological transformation. In recent years satellite technology has demonstrated a key value to support a great variety of applications for the development of our society and economy. The three main space-based domains providing relevant infrastructure and facilities are satellite systems for Earth observation, telecommunication, and geopositioning/navigation. Such technologies are complementary to each other, and their synergetic integration can achieve the required product and service characteristics satisfying the needs of the different users ranging from weather forecasting and natural resource monitoring to disaster management and law enforcement activities. Health-related applications are an emerging domain that has to respond and address complex and global challenges.     

虚拟仪表在装甲车辆信息化改造中的应用

为综合运用虚拟仪表技术、总线技术、多路数据实时采集技术,把装甲车辆的现有仪表融入整车的信息化管理体系中,在不干扰车载原有仪表正常工作的情况下,实现了现有仪表传感器信息的精确提取,各信息通过总线传入车载监控中心,以虚拟仪表的形式实现动态显示,为乘员准确了解全车各项重要参数信息、及时进行了战场决策提供了可靠的数据支持。     

Design Principles and IT Overviews of the GEO Grid

As the Earth's ecosystem is a spatially and temporally complex system by nature, it is not sufficient to observe such events and phenomena locally; problems must be solved on a global scale. Therefore, the accumulation of knowledge about the earth in various forms and a scientifically correct understanding of the earth are necessary. The authors have been leading the “Global Earth Observation (GEO) Grid” project since 2005, which is primarily aimed at providing an e-Science infrastructure for the worldwide earth sciences community. In the community, there are wide varieties of existing datasets including satellite imagery, geological data, and ground sensed data that each data owner insists own licensing policy. Also, there are so many related projects that will be configured as a virtual organization (VO) enabled by Grid technology. The GEO Grid is designed to integrate all of the relevant data virtually, again enabled by Grid technology, and is accessible as a set of services. In this paper, first we describe design principles of the GEO Grid that are determined based on accommodating users requirements for publishing, managing, and using data. Second, software architecture and its preliminary implementations are specified where we take the Grid computing and Web service technologies as the core components that comply with a standard set of technologies and protocols. In addition, GEO Grid has been recognized to contribute to GEO or Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) as a part of the Japanese government's commitment.      

An adaptive filter using scanning observation with application to a DPS

In this paper an observation strategy is presented, based on the concept of scanning observability, for finite-dimensional linear systems with discrete observations. It aims to improve the convergence properties of the extended Kalman filter, regarded as an adaptive estimator of the state for the above class of systems. A significant application to a distributed parameter system is shown, related to the problem of determining a convenient trajectory for a moving sensor or a convenient scanning observation rule over a set of fixed sensors. the effectiveness of the resulting filter is analysed on the basis of several numerical experiments.     

光伏发电功率预测预报系统升级方案设计及关键技术实现

“光伏发电功率预测预报系统V2.0”开发完成于2012年初,由于国家能源行业标准《光伏发电功率预测系统功能规范》（2014）即将颁布,完善系统功能,提高系统适用性,对系统升级尤其必要。从系统框架完善、预报方法改进、网络技术应用以及功能模块优化等4个方面对“光伏发电功率预测预报系统V2.0”进行了升级。升级内容主要包括：新增集合预报法以实现多种预报方法的集成优化,新增B/S架构方式并通过Silverlight 4.0技术实现预报产品的网络发布,新增电站地理信息地图显示从而增强系统的展示性,加强入库数据的规范化管理及对系统进行发电单元划分。升级后的系统已推广应用于全国多家光伏电站,将有助于电网对光伏发电的合理有效调度及光伏电站发电效率的提高。     

GEONETCast—Delivering Environmental Data to Users Worldwide (September 2007)

GEONETCast, a near real-time global environmental information-delivery system by which in situ, airborne, and space-based observations, products, and services are transmitted to users through communication satellites, was accepted as a GEO initiative by the second GEO Plenary. GEONETCast is an interconnected global network of regional dissemination systems that are each focused on a specific geographic region under the respective satellites' footprints. Data from each region can be disseminated outside the originating region through data-exchange links between regions, such as through dedicated lines, overlapping satellite footprints, or use of the Internet or other existing networks. The regional components include one or more data collection, management, and dissemination hubs that receive, process, prioritize, and schedule the incoming data streams or products originating within the particular region. These GEONETCast Network Centres (GNCs) forward the prioritized data stream to the uplink ground station, which receives it, wraps it in a DVB-S dissemination protocol, and uplinks it to a communication satellite for dissemination at Ku- or C-band frequency. The data GEONETCast delivers is specifically targeted to address nine society benefit areas such as natural and human-induced hazards, environment and health, environmental-related energy issues, climate change, water management, weather, ecosystem management, sustainable agriculture, and desertification and biodiversity, with the aim of reaching a global coverage and allow the reception of this data at very low cost (basic reception station below $US2000) by nearly anyone on the planet. GEONETCast is a prominent case in which typical obstacles such as interoperability of existing systems and components reuse of existing infrastructure and interfacing with newly developed components have been resolved successfully.      

电力安全工器具智能管理系统的研发及应用

电力安全工器具种类多、数量大,作为保障各类电工操作安全、有序作业必不可少的器具,高效率、专业化和智能型管理是电力企业安全质效提升的重要举措。针对现场电力安全工器具管理存在的诸多问题,基于"云平台"自动模式识别技术,研发电力安全工器具智能管理系统,集各个安全工器具身份标识、位置信息、出入库记录、损坏报废标记以及超过检测周期警报提示为一体。通过周期测试和现场应用,结果表明:该系统以安全工器具个体为管理单元,分层分类,构建大数据库,信息覆盖全面完整;分布式区块链技术有力支撑平台数据的实时更新和资源共享,提升管理效率;指纹登录,智能感应,出入库时间缩短了2/3,取用便捷,提高工作效率;智能扫描检测功能,及时警示反馈,有效避免现场违规使用事件的发生,助力安全生产,夯实安全质效。     

Integrative science: a modeling challenge

Computational modeling and information technology in biology and medicine will play a major role in the interdisciplinary attempt to elucidate structures and functions of living systems. The recursion between organization levels, at all space and time scales, for highly dynamical, interacting, and complex systems (i.e., the integrative science) is a very challenging topic where formal models, observational tools, and experimental investigations have to be closely designed and confronted together. This first in a series of short articles will examine some of the issues to deal with and enhance the perspectives that can be expected from the coupling between modeling and processing frames.     

基于分区解耦的配电网状态估计的分布式并行计算

以全量测配置为边界对配电网馈线进行解耦分区,把分区作为独立的分析单元对状态估计进行分块处理,并采用基于支路电流的量测变换技术对配电网的单分区进行状态估计。同时,构建了分布式并行计算的分层结构,引入基于消息中间件ZeroMQ技术,采用不同类型套接字的组合实现分布式系统内部的N-N高效通信。并在分布式并行计算平台上以分区状态估计为子任务,实现全网状态估计的分布式并行计算。算例分析表明：在配电网规模达到500节点及以上时,采用所提出的状态估计分布式架构进行计算具有明显的速度优势。     

Teaching hardware/software system codesign using CAD tools: a casestudy in image synthesis

The teaching of electronic systems architecture covers a large domain from software to hardware aspects. Producing engineers who are experts in both areas seems impossible, but giving the students a second expertise is obviously important. The subject matter of this paper is to report a course developed for students in computer science to give them an expertise in digital electronic problems through the use of a heterogeneous architecture. The application supporting this teaching is image synthesis, partially programmed on transputer microprocessors and partially synthesized with two FPGAs. Thanks to this example, students use a large set of CAD tools and understand the advantages and drawbacks of cabled solutions versus programmed solutions. The developed application is finally validated on a board designed by others students. Beyond technical achievements, students also gain experience working in teams on a project with a module partitioning