Global Hydrology Resource Center(GHRC) is one of NASA's Earth Science Data Centers and is a collaboration between MSFC and University of Alabama in Huntsville.

NASA Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) Datasets

Table of Contents

Introduction
Campaigns
     GRIP
     NAMMA
RTMM Dataset Descriptions
     GRIP Flight Tracks and Animations
     NAMMA DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping (ICATS)
Investigators
File Naming Convention
Data Format
Citation
References
Contact Information

Introduction

The NASA Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) is a situational awareness tool that integrates satellite, airborne and surface data sets; weather information; model and forecast outputs; and vehicle state data (e.g., aircraft navigation, satellite tracks and instrument field-of-views) for field experiment management. RTMM optimizes science and logistic decision-making during field experiments by presenting timely data and graphics to the users to improve real time situational awareness of the experiment's assets. The integration and delivery of this information is made possible through data acquisition systems, network communication links and network server resources built and managed by Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) incorporating additional data from collaborating organizations as specified in each mission description.

Campaigns

The RTMM is proven in the field as it supported program managers, scientists, and aircraft personnel during the following field experiments.

GRIP

The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment was a NASA Earth science field experiment conducted August 5 to September 30, 2010. The major goal was to better understand how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes. NASA used the DC-8 aircraft, the WB-57 aircraft and the Global Hawk Unmanned Airborne System (UAS), configured with a suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments that were used to observe and characterize the lifecycle of hurricanes. This campaign also capitalized on a number of ground networks and space-based assets, in addition to the instruments deployed on aircraft from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ( DC-8), Houston, Texas (WB-57), and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, California (Global Hawk). Collaboration with NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) and the Air Force 53rd Weather reconnaissance for the C130 provided aircraft tracking data to the RTMM. More information about this Campaign can be found on the GRIP web site: http://airbornescience.nsstc.nasa.gov/grip

NAMMA

The NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (NAMMA) campaign, a field research investigation sponsored by the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was based in the Cape Verde Islands, 350 miles off the coast of Senegal in west Africa. Commencing in August 2006, NASA scientists employed surface observation networks and aircraft to characterize the evolution and structure of African Easterly Waves (AEWs) and Mesoscale Convective Systems over continental western Africa, and their associated impacts on regional water and energy budgets. For more information about the NAMMA Campaign, go to the NAMMA web site: http://namma.nsstc.nasa.gov/

RTMM Dataset Descriptions

The NASA Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) optimizes science and logistic decision-making during field experiments by presenting timely data, graphics and visualizations to the users to improve real time situational awareness of the experiment's assets. Further details on RTMM are available at: http://rtmm.nsstc.nasa.gov/.

GRIP Flight Tracks and Animations

The GRIP Flight Tracks and Animations dataset includes both KML files and animation files. The KML files use Google Earth to show the flight tracks on a map. The animations vary by type. Created by the Real-time Mission Monitor (RTMM) software, the .avi files show the flight track versus time superimposed over the GOES IR data. The National SubOrbital Education and Research Center provided a file in two formats (.mov, .mp4) viewing hurricane Earl from the NASA DC-8 aircraft. Also a NBC newscast informs the public of the GRIP's goals during the campaign.

NAMMA DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping (ICATS)

The NAMMA DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping (ICATS) dataset contains an RTMM animation file. The .avi file shows the flight track versus time superimposed over satellite data.

Investigators

Michael Goodman
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL 35805

John Hall
The University of Alabama Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35805

Matt He
The University of Alabama Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35805

File Naming Convention

RTMM dataset files are of the form:

yyyy-mm-dd_[aircraft]_track.kml
yyyy-mm-dd_[campaign]_[additional_details].mov
yyyy-mm-dd_[campaign][additional_details].avi
yyyy-mm-dd_[campaign]_[additional_details].mp4

where

yyyy-mm-dd = year, month and day
campaign = the field campaign (GRIP, NAMMA, ...)
aircraft = aircraft designator (DC8, NOAA42, NOAA43, NOAA49, GV, N871NA, WB57, GIV)
additional_details = optional additional details used to identify the file (hurricane, aircraft, ...)
kml = Keyhole Markup Language
mov = Apple QuickTime Movie
avi = Audio Video Interleave
mp4 = MPEG-4

Data Format

The RTMM datasets contain Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files which can be viewed in Google Earth. Additionally the datasets have animations in mov, avi and mp4 format.

Citation

Our data sets are provided through the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project and the Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). GHRC DAAC is one of NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data centers that are part of the ESDIS project. ESDIS data are not copyrighted; however, in the event that you publish our data or results derived by using our data, we request that you include an acknowledgment within the text of the article and a citation on your reference list. Examples for general acknowledgments, data set citation in a reference listing, and crediting online web images and information can be found at: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/uso/citation.html

References

Goodman, MH, Blakeslee R, Regner K, Meyer P, Conover H. 2011. Coordinating Aircraft During NASA Airborne Science Field Campaigns. Earth Science Technology Forum.

He, M, Blakslee R, Goodman M, The Waypoint Planning Tool: Real Time Flight Planning for Airborne Science. American Geophysical Union. 2010.

Blakeslee, RJ, Goodman M, Hardin DM, Hall J, He YM, Regner K, Conover H, Smith T, Meyer P, Lu J et al.. 2009. The 2nd Generation Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) Development. American Geophysical Union.

R. Blakeslee, J. Hall, M. Goodman, P. Parker, L. Freudinger and M. He, The Real Time Mission Monitor - A Situational Awareness Tool For Managing Experiment Assets, NASA Science and Technology Conference 2007, 19-21 June 2007, College Park, MD.

Contact Information

To order these data or for further information, please contact:

Global Hydrology Resource Center
User Services
320 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone: 256-961-7932
E-mail: ghrcdaac@itsc.uah.edu
Web: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/