Earth Observing System: Broader Involvement of the EOSDIS User Community is Needed
Abstract
A review was made various aspects of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). NASA has initiated a program, called the Earth Observing System (EOS), to collect an integrated set of data to study the earth's atmosphere, bio- sphere, oceans, land surfaces, and polar regions as a complete system over a 15- year period. The data from EOS will be processed, archived, and distributed by EOSDIS. As part of your request, you asked us to determine the extent to which users have provided input in defining EOSDIS requirements. This report describes the degree of user involvement and its importance in the EOSDIS planning and development process. NASA has not done enough to ensure that input from the full range of anticipated EOSDIS users is incorporated in the system's design. The predominant users of EOSDIS are expected to be the thousands of earth scientists who are not affiliated with the EOS program. However, NASA's planning for the system thus far has relied largely on input from the relatively small number of researchers funded directly by NASA. NASA's guidelines and mechanisms for obtaining further user input in the future do not provide assurance that all segments of the user community will be adequately represented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA253695
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office