Welcome to the

Goddard Earth SciencesData and Information Services Center

(GES DISC)

User Working Group (UWG) Meeting

May 10-11, 2011

The purpose of the Goddard Data and Information Services (DISC) User Working Group (UWG) is to establish science user involvement in the planning, development, and operations of the GES DISC and to represent the science user community in reviewing and guiding DISC development.

The UWG is a guiding body for Earth science data management at the GES DISC, as well as for the NASA EOSDIS Program

Purpose

• Assist in defining how the GES DISC activities will meet science goals and questions.

• Provide clear, objective recommendations on data management issues and priorities at the GES DISC.

• Provide user review, guidance, user feedback to DISC development activities and operations.

• Facilitate coordination with the general user community, the EOSDIS Program and Project Scientists, and interested members of other communities.

Objectives

Responsibilities

Topics and issues which the UWG will be responsible for addressing include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Progress and performance of the DISC system; recommendations for improving the utility of the DISC to science/application researchers.

• Data set priorities, including requirements for precursor data sets and for new data products of significant use to the user community.

• Mechanisms to enhance user access to data (new technologies, better data representation, pre-science tools, user/data assistance, DISC user interface, and DISC user conferences).

• Requirements for and characteristics of browse and other non-standard (e.g., real near real time data) products.

• Science user perspective on system-related issues, such as data processing system requirements, data formats and standards, data product organization, preprocessing requirements, and capability development.

Agenda Format

• Introductory Material

• Review of previous UWG recommendations

• A series of discussions that address GES DISC activities and questions that will bear recommendations consistent with the objectives of the User Working Group

Agenda

DAY 1 

• 8:00 Breakfast 

• 8:30 – Welcomes- Logistics and Introductions…Agenda, Objectives, Roles and Responsibilities (10

minutes) – Steve Kempler/GES DISC Manager and Eric Fetzer/UWG Chair/JPL 

- Welcome from Code 610 (10 minutes) - Steve Wharton/Chief, GCDC

• 8:50 – Perspectives - HQ perspectives on NASA Earth Science Data Systems – Ken Jucks/GES DISC

Program Scientist/HQ

- UWG Charge: Programmatic guidance to UWG – Ken

- Mechanism for carrying out recommendations - Ken

(30 minutes)

- EOSDIS perspective/update (20 minutes) – John Moses/ESDIS

• 9:40 - User Satisfaction Survey (20 minutes)- ESDIS Project Report – John

- DISC Project Report –Jim Acker/GES DISC 

• 10:00 – 15 minute break

Agenda

10:15 - The Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)

- State of the DISC (30 minutes) – Steve K -10 recommendations – (60 minutes) – Steve K to lead

1. Expand the UWG2. Organize data by science discipline  3. Keep an archive of user scenarios (GES DISC approach)4. Increase access to multi-sensor observations5. Help further NASA’s role in climate assessments6. Enable transition to users in the applications and decision support

communities7. Help ensure data quality and provenance8. Transition to support for future missions9. Allow subsetting and simplified formats10. Continue asking GES DISC UWG and science community for

clarification on data service enhancements

11:45 – 60 minute lunch (Pizzzza)

10:15 - The Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)

- State of the DISC (30 minutes) – Steve K -10 recommendations – (60 minutes) – Steve K to lead

1. Expand the UWG2. Organize data by science discipline  3. Keep an archive of user scenarios (GES DISC approach)4. Increase access to multi-sensor observations5. Help further NASA’s role in climate assessments6. Enable transition to users in the applications and decision support

communities7. Help ensure data quality and provenance8. Transition to support for future missions9. Allow subsetting and simplified formats10. Continue asking GES DISC UWG and science community for

clarification on data service enhancements

11:45 – 60 minute lunch (Pizzzza)

Agenda

Discussion SessionsThe following sessions will each contain questions/issues in which the GES DISC seeks advice/recommendations from its User Working Group12:45 - Session A. Lines of Business (90 minutes) – Steve K, lead

Discussion of the GES DISC’s focus areas addressed to fulfill their data management requirements. How it has changed, and why, and current focus

2:15 - Session B. New Services (75 minutes) – Chris Lynnes, (Contributors: Greg Leptoukh, Mahabaleshwa Hegde, Richard Strub)/GES DISC

1. DiscoveryUpdate: What kind of data discovery and access methods is particularly useful to users? How can we get more access and discovery input from the user community?

2. Services –Data QualityOpenDAP/WMS/WCSSubsetting/Reformatting – Simple Subsetting WizardGiovanni and Giovanni Evolution

Discussion SessionsThe following sessions will each contain questions/issues in which the GES DISC seeks advice/recommendations from its User Working Group12:45 - Session A. Lines of Business (90 minutes) – Steve K, lead

Discussion of the GES DISC’s focus areas addressed to fulfill their data management requirements. How it has changed, and why, and current focus

2:15 - Session B. New Services (75 minutes) – Chris Lynnes, (Contributors: Greg Leptoukh, Mahabaleshwa Hegde, Richard Strub)/GES DISC

1. DiscoveryUpdate: What kind of data discovery and access methods is particularly useful to users? How can we get more access and discovery input from the user community?

2. Services –Data QualityOpenDAP/WMS/WCSSubsetting/Reformatting – Simple Subsetting WizardGiovanni and Giovanni Evolution

Agenda

3:30 – Break3:45 - Session C. Technology Initiatives

1. ESDIS Evolution Initiatives (40 minutes) – ESDIS/GES DISC- LANCE – Karen Michael/ESDIS and Bruce Vollmer/GES DISC- User Registration – Andrew Mitchell/ESDIS and Bruce (in previous talk)- REVERB/ECHO – Andrew and Chris-Coherent Web – John/ESDIS

2. Community Based Initiatives (55 minutes) – Chris (contributors: Greg, Bruce)ESC (break with feedback)ESIP Discovery ClusterESIP IQ Cluster (break with feedback)ESDSWG/TIWGSimple Subset WizardWADCGEWEX/CEOPGEWEX/aerosolsACPUser ScenariosCommunity Based Giovanni

3:30 – Break3:45 - Session C. Technology Initiatives

1. ESDIS Evolution Initiatives (40 minutes) – ESDIS/GES DISC- LANCE – Karen Michael/ESDIS and Bruce Vollmer/GES DISC- User Registration – Andrew Mitchell/ESDIS and Bruce (in previous talk)- REVERB/ECHO – Andrew and Chris-Coherent Web – John/ESDIS

2. Community Based Initiatives (55 minutes) – Chris (contributors: Greg, Bruce)ESC (break with feedback)ESIP Discovery ClusterESIP IQ Cluster (break with feedback)ESDSWG/TIWGSimple Subset WizardWADCGEWEX/CEOPGEWEX/aerosolsACPUser ScenariosCommunity Based Giovanni

Agenda

 Is this enough community participation, not enough, or too much? Enough technology based initiatives? Science initiatives? 

5:15 ADJOURN for the day Dinner TBD

DAY 2 8:00 Breakfast8:30 - Session C. Technology Initiatives (continued)

3. GES DISC Evolution Initiatives (40 minutes)- Cloud Computing – Long (Contributors: Mike Theobald, Bruce, Aijun Chen, Ed Esfandiari)/GES DISC Web Redesign – Long and Rashed Chowdhury/GES DISC– followed with discussionMDSA, provenance – GregAerostat, validation – Greg

 Is this enough community participation, not enough, or too much? Enough technology based initiatives? Science initiatives? 

5:15 ADJOURN for the day Dinner TBD

DAY 2 8:00 Breakfast8:30 - Session C. Technology Initiatives (continued)

3. GES DISC Evolution Initiatives (40 minutes)- Cloud Computing – Long (Contributors: Mike Theobald, Bruce, Aijun Chen, Ed Esfandiari)/GES DISC Web Redesign – Long and Rashed Chowdhury/GES DISC– followed with discussionMDSA, provenance – GregAerostat, validation – Greg

Agenda

9:10 - Session D. Mission Support (60 minutes)1. Multi-Sensor Initiatives– Greg2. Model Data – Peter Smith/GES DISC3. MEaSUREs Projects Data Support Report – Bruce4. Sustaining completed projects – Steve K5. Applications activities (USDA, DSS) – Bill Teng/GES DISC6. Data Stewardship and Data Provenance activities – Steve K and

Greg7. Our new proposed data citation policy (generate strawman)-

Chris 10:10 BREAK10:25 Executive Session: Discuss findings, suggestions, recommendations – UWG Members, ESDIS11:25 UWG Report out: UWG Recommendations and General Discussion (this meeting, process improvement, next meeting) – All

12:00 UWG Meeting ADJOURNED for the day -Lunch at Chinese Buffet

9:10 - Session D. Mission Support (60 minutes)1. Multi-Sensor Initiatives– Greg2. Model Data – Peter Smith/GES DISC3. MEaSUREs Projects Data Support Report – Bruce4. Sustaining completed projects – Steve K5. Applications activities (USDA, DSS) – Bill Teng/GES DISC6. Data Stewardship and Data Provenance activities – Steve K and

Greg7. Our new proposed data citation policy (generate strawman)-

Chris 10:10 BREAK10:25 Executive Session: Discuss findings, suggestions, recommendations – UWG Members, ESDIS11:25 UWG Report out: UWG Recommendations and General Discussion (this meeting, process improvement, next meeting) – All

12:00 UWG Meeting ADJOURNED for the day -Lunch at Chinese Buffet

Logistics

• Breakfast and snacks are provided• Pizza lunch order headcount will be taken in the morning. Unfortunately, government funds can not be used for purchasing food, so we are on our own.• We will also take a headcount for a Tuesday night dinner

• Breakfast and snacks are provided• Pizza lunch order headcount will be taken in the morning. Unfortunately, government funds can not be used for purchasing food, so we are on our own.• We will also take a headcount for a Tuesday night dinner