Using Architecture Modeling to Assess the Societal Benefits of the Global Earth Observation System-of-Systems

An enterprise architecture for the Earth Science activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was developed to assist in assessing the capacity of scientific instruments in meeting the needs of society. It can also help them develop the right investment strategies and help scientists and engineers in their planning for system development, especially for complex space-based environmental sensors. This architecture model can be easily extended to the Global Earth Observation System-of-Systems (GEOSS). In fact, it was constructed with GEOSS in mind to ensure that NASA's observation systems can be readily mapped into the GEOSS structure. The architecture contains about 3000 elements that are involved in earth science research: observation sources, sensors, environmental parameters, data products, mission products, observations, science models, predictions, and decision-support tools. The science models use observations from the space-based instruments to generate predictions about various aspects of the environment. These predictions are used by decision-makers around the world to help minimize property damage and loss of human life due to adverse conditions such as severe weather storms. The architecture is developed using both traditional and nontraditional systems engineering (SE) tools and techniques. This paper will describe additional methods needed for the SE toolbox.      

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.      

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.      

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.      

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.      

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.      

The International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN): An Integrated System of Seismological Observatories

The International Federation of Digital Seismographic Networks (FDSN) is a non-governmental organization formed by institutions dedicated to seismological research and seismic monitoring. The FDSN is a successful complement to the International Seismological Centre (ISC) in pursuing a more than a century old tradition of global seismic data exchange. The main goal of the FDSN is the production and dissemination of seismic waveform data from high fidelity seismic observatories. The Federation is formed by 65 organizations from 52 countries that contribute data to three main data centers in the United States, Europe, and Japan. A subset of the stations that conform the FDSN send real-time to the Data Management Center (DMC) of the Incorporated Research Institutions of Seismology (IRIS) in the United States. Data from this real-time network is crucial to the determination of the seismic parameters of large earthquakes in a very short time after their occurrence and to support the efforts of institutions that are responsible for disaster relief or prevention. Most notably, Tsunami Warning Centers use this information as a fundamental underpinning to issue warnings and alerts. The FDSN is an early participant of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), contributing high-quality, timely and freely accessible seismic data. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the FDSN from the viewpoint of an integrated system of observatories and to share with other GEOSS networks the successes, challenges and lessons learned by the FDSN in promoting the open and free access of seismological data for the benefit of scientific research and disaster prevention and mitigation.      

Frequency Dependent Characteristics of Grounding Systems

This paper presents models for the computation of frequency characteristics and transient response of power grounding systems. The methodology can accommodate any configuration of a grounding system comprising rectilinear conductors. The approach is based on transmission line concepts. Finite element analysis is employed to model the constituent parts of a grounding system. The grounding system is segmented into short lengths of earth embedded electrodes which are characterized as lossy transmission lines with distributed inductance, capacitance, series resistahce, resistance to earth, and mutual coupling to any other finite element of earth conductors. The parameters of the short earth embedded electrodes are computed by solution of Maxwell's equations and assuming quasi-static conditions. The paper presents a validation procedure which is based on comparison of analysis results to test results obtained at BPA. The model is applicable for transient phenomena comprising a wide range of frequencies. Results are presented which illustrate the properties of grounding systems to low as well as high frequency transients.     

GridFoRCE: A Comprehensive Resource Kit for Teaching Grid Computing

A comprehensive suite of pedagogical resources is presented that will enable an instructor to embed grid computing concepts in a traditional distributed system course. Rapidly advancing Internet technologies and ever expanding application domains have created excitement in teaching distributed systems. Many fundamental concepts developed decades earlier, such as remote procedure calls and multithreading, have come to play key roles in modern distributed systems. Standards such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) have been developed to enable interoperability among heterogeneous distributed systems. However, a plethora of new paradigms, a wide variety of technological choices, and short cycles of technological obsolescence challenge the introduction of these important concepts into a distributed systems course. This paper describes how the author addressed these challenges in teaching grid computing. The paper also provides details of the resources developed during this process. The pedagogical resource kit developed includes course curriculum, lecture notes, a set of laboratory assignments, a Globus Toolkit-based experimental grid adapted to classroom assignments, and valuable lessons learned from the course offerings during the past two years. The material provided in this paper is expected to help to "jumpstart" educators considering the introduction of grid computing into their curricula     

Substation based data interpretation techniques for improved powersystem management

There is now considerable pressure on electric utilities to operate their power systems in the most efficient manner possible and to provide increased quality of service to customers. This pressure, coupled with the decreasing availability of reserve margins, dictates that there is a requirement for comprehensive power system operation support through, among other things, the provision of quality information relating to the behaviour of the primary and secondary systems. This paper shows how the data available within modern substation control and management systems can be exploited in a cost-effective manner, through the implementation of advanced substation functions in an open systems environment. Certain functions which are presently carried out at the control centre could be distributed (or partially distributed) to the substation. These functions may provide utility staff with quality information, which can in turn be used to satisfy the objectives of increasing quality and security of supply, in addition to optimising the utility's information, maintenance and asset management functions     

电力企业数据仓库中元模型的研究

公共仓库元模型(CWM)标准为数据仓库和业务分析领域中所使用的元数据定义了一种通用语言和交换机制,并且为构造和描述一个完整信息供应链(ISC)提供所需元数据的语法和语义,可以有效地实现软件组之间互操作,降低系统复杂度、节约开销、提高数据仓库的运行效率。文章阐述了CWM体系结构方面的基础知识,并把CWM标准引入到电力企业数据仓库中,对关系型元数据进行了建模,把概念模型转化为CWM模型,并用XML文档进行了描述,最后生成关系型的概念模型。     

Computer integrated manufacturing: a case study in the cementindustry

Efforts by California Portland Cement (CPC) to decrease manufacturing costs and increase productivity throughout the cement division are discussed. One aspect of these efforts has involved the planning for and the application of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) to provide managers at all levels with the tools and information they need to achieve these goals. The CIM effort has been directed at both corporate and plant functions and includes both manufacturing and support personnel. The breadth of the hardware installation has ranged from new distributed control systems to corporatewide data communications networks and individual personal computers and workstations. Applications software has ranged from typical motor control logic and direct digital control algorithms to distributed databases and expert systems. A generic CIM model is used to summarize work to date in three cement plants constructed or modernized over the last 25 years. Directions for the future are also highlighted. Special emphasis is placed on identifying the areas of highest return for CIM in the cement industry, and the practical and political pitfalls of implementing CIM in any manufacturing environment are discussed     

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.      

Improving the health care and public health critical infrastructure

If you think in terms of your lifetime, you may ponder that while the hours, minutes, and seconds of a day have remained the same, the amount of information that you have received, let's say, in the 1980s compared with now, 2008, is drastically different. The size of information received in a day now is larger than what you have received in the past years. The information age has also created a wide range of tools, technologies, and techniques that continuously deliver enormous amounts of data, information, and knowledge. We are increasingly flooded with e-mails that routinely have a plethora of documents (in electronic form) that come in all shapes and forms (multimedia etc.) and more sophisticated types of data and information transmissions from sensing and monitoring devices as well. To compound this issue, there are usually no rules or standards, other than common sense, on how or where we should store all this information or knowledge. The bad news is that, with so much of information flow, it is difficult to filter in just the piece that may be needed at the right time. In many cases, we may not be aware where that information may be or if it exists somewhere at all. However, an information glut caused by a combination of pervasive systems and converging technologies may allow us to get useful and, at times, critical information anywhere and at the right time. In the past decade, with the proliferation of the Internet and the World Wide Web, many past and ongoing efforts have tried to improve the movement from text documents and database records to automated reasoning. This process is critical in particular for information sharing. This article provides a background of knowledge management for public health information infrastructure, followed by an illustration of the complexity of knowledge management for health care. We then present an evolving framework for semantic expression that would enable the sharing and exchange of knowledge in public health.     

概念格在变压器故障诊断中的应用研究

为解决变压器故障诊断中传统方法无法解决的知识发现与获取难题,以变压器故障诊断知识库为基础,建立相应的概念格结构,并在格上剪枝以协调目标信息库。从数据集中生成概念格过程的实质是概念聚类过程,应用广泛。应用格上的概念诊断变压器故障,能确定出不完整信息下的格节点对象集,再用粗糙隶属度法确定出各故障发生的概率。研究表明该法有一定的智能性和容错性,是一种有效的变压器故障诊断知识处理方法。     

基于CORBA的异构电力信息系统的集成与数据交换

针对目前国内的电力公司大多有几个异构的电力信息系统,各系统相互独立,具有很强的独立性和"自治性",但存在各系统间资源不能共享,信息不能交换的问题。在介绍CORBA常识的基础上,提出了基于CORBA的异构电力信息集成与数据交换的方法,实现了多个异构电力信息系统的整合和信息交换,并且利用异构数据库开发了一些新功能。     

智能调度分布式一体化建模方案

智能调度建设要求调度中心共享信息,为此提出了智能调度分布式一体化建模方案。该方案中,各级调度系统之间通过模型信息联动技术,实现图形、数据、模型的共享;通过模型拆分/合并技术、在线外网等值技术等建立全电网模型和图形,并获取实时运行数据;通过模型信息订阅技术为各应用系统提供个性化的模型信息服务。分布式一体化建模可为智能调度提供一体化模型与基础数据,实现模型信息的源端维护、全网共享,满足调度中心对全电网的模型分析、安全预警、辅助决策等业务需要。     

Information and communication theory in molecular biology

The DNA sequencing efforts of the past years together with rapid progress in sequencing technology have generated a huge amount of sequence data available in public molecular databases. This recent development makes it statistically feasible to apply universal concepts from Shannon’s information theory to problems in molecular biology, e.g to use mutual information for gene mapping and phylogenetic classification. Additionally, the genetic information in the cell is continuously subject to mutations. However, it has to be passed from generation to generation with high fidelity, raising the question of existence of error protection and correction mechanisms similar to those used in technical communication systems. Finally, better understanding of genetic information processing on the molecular level in the cell can be acquired by looking for parallels to well established models in communication theory, e.g. there exist analogies between gene expression and frame synchronization.     

Traffic scheduling in distributed networked control systems with packet losses and delays for power systems voltage stabilization

In this paper, medium access control (MAC) sublayer data traffic scheduling in distributed networked control systems (DNCSs) with networked induced packet losses and delays is investigated for stabilization and control of system dynamics. An effective‐information‐directed distributed sensor selection algorithm is proposed to select sensors to participate in delay‐tolerant information filtering for state estimation. The distributed scheduling algorithm is based on the total amount of effective information for all measurements stored in the sensors. We consider packet loss in wireless networks as a special type of delay, so the impact of packet losses on effective information amount can also be studied for the formulation of distributed scheduling strategy in the presence of packet losses. The distributed data traffic scheduling considering packet losses and delays is carried out in a networked system with data packet dropout governed by a Markov process for voltage regulation and stabilization with distributed energy resources (DERs). Experimental results demonstrate that the scheduling algorithm with awareness of the system dynamic state can well control the power system dynamics. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Information assurance in biomedical informatics systems

The DHS recognizes that the progression from data to information to knowledge and subsequently to wisdom is a key to robust, reliable, and resilient biomedical informatics systems. The systems that enable this progression are increasingly complex. Frequently these systems are so complex that no one, including their designers, understands all their interactions and the implications of changes. This complexity combined with closely coupled systems operations creates critical systems that are both fragile and brittle. In the systems, failure of a single component may adversely affect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of many critical systems. National security efforts cannot afford to place the security of the homeland on the backs of brittle systems.