Campaign-level science traceability for Earth observation system architecting

Abstract

The Earth Sciences Decadal Survey of 2007 presented a comprehensive vision for the evolution of space-based Earth Science resources. The practical development of the Decadal campaign, however, has highlighted four challenges to the original plan: the growth of expected costs and the reduction of program budget, the loss and changing status of the expected precursor missions, the opportunity afforded by international earth science efforts, and the increasing desire to operationalize key measurements of the earth. This thesis discusses how system architecting of the Decadal campaign can realistically reproduce the decision logic of the Decadal Survey, while accurately capturing the necessary constraints and value functions, and can form the basis for rational analysis of the effects of changing assumptions. This thesis presents a technique for tracing stakeholder value to campaign architecture decisions through a system of science traceability matrices. Using a framework based upon decomposition of value-related elements, the costs and benefits of the Decadal campaign are analyzed. This thesis refines a technique for the scheduling of space-based observation campaigns and provides insight and recommendations for the Earth Observation Program. The decision logic of the Decadal Survey is implemented through constraints and value functions, and an algorithm for scheduling is developed. Finally, this algorithm is used to examine the impacts of key changes that have occurred since the publishing of the Decadal Survey and provide recommendations for the development of the Earth Science Decadal Survey campaign.