SPACE GROUND SENSOR WEBS FOR VOLCANO MONITORING

Abstract:

We describe a new prototype sensor web which leverages recent commercial assets, building on prior work [1,2] in which many diverse inputs are constantly interpreted to track science activity. This continual interpretation is then used to dynamically allocate/direct observation assets to improve tracking and measurement of the target science phenomena. We demonstrate this concept to automatically observe volcanoes based on a number of alert systems including: MODIS, VIIRS, VAAC, USGS Seismic, Iceland MET, IGEPN, and Serganomin.

The concepts described above were recently tested in an end-to-end demonstration [3]. Triggered by detections of volcanic activity, we automatically tasked the Planet Skysat constellation from a JPL sensor web node. Scenes were acquired of Bill Mitchell, Nishinoshima, and Mere Lava volcanos based on the VIIRS, MODIS, and USGS triggers. In this demonstration, only overflight/target is checked at JPL with almost all of the deconfliction happening within the Planet scheduling system. However, in the general system the architecture is designed to support a federated scheduling system where many local, loosely coordinated entities manage their own internal resource allocations.

We are currently working to expand the sensor web to include additional taskable assets such as the ECOSTRESS instrument, currently onboard the ISS, as well as other relevant commercial assets such as the Planet Dove constellation. We are also working to integrate automated analysis of the volcanic thermal signatures from satellite sources (e.g. Skysat, Dove, ECOSTRESS).

Acknowledgments: This work was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. © 2020. All Rights Reserved.

References: [1] Chien, S. et al. Automated Volcano Monitoring Using Multiple Space and Ground Sensors. Jnl Aerospace Information Systems, 17:4: 214-228. 2020. [2] Chien, S.;et al.. Using Taskable Remote Sensing in a Sensor Web for Thailand Flood Monitoring. Jnl Aerospace Information Systems, 16(3): 107-119. 2019. [3] Chien, S. et al. Leveraging Space and Ground Assets in a Sensorweb for Scientific Monitoring: Early Results and Opportunities for the Future. In IGARSS, September 2020.