1. National Ice Center Sea Ice Processing System (SIMS)
Paul A. Seymour
4/8/2019

2. SIMS Brief Outline Vision Overview of the System Functionality
Lessons Learned
Future Plans
4/8/2019

3. SIMS Vision
All Input Data in the Same Format and Available in the Same System in the Same Projection
Image Analysis and Spatial Data in Same Format
Analyze and Attribute on Imagery/Ancillary Data
Disseminate User Defined Products Fm Database
Maximum Use of Commercial Software (COTS)
4/8/2019

4. Overview of the SIMS System Hardware
Servers
Unix 450 Server w/ 90 Ghz Raid
Workstatiions
PCs. NT. Dual Monitor. Single or Dual Ghz
12 in Ops/1 in Science on LAN
2 Stand-alone in Spaces Not on LAN
Network
Gigabyte Network
4/8/2019

5. Overview of the SIMS System Software
Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Software
Image Analysis: Remote View/Imagine
GIS: ARCINFO, ARCVIEW, ARCMAP
Database: Oracle
Integration: Lockheed Martin CARTERRA
4/8/2019

6. Overview of the System Main Components
Ingest Batcher Module
Analysis Module
Dissemination Module
Advanced Reasoning using Knowledge To classify Sea-ice
Work being performed by Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis and Dr. Leen Kiat Soh at KU, Denise Gineris (ERIM contractor at NRLSSC) and Mary Ruth Keller (NIC analyst).
4/8/2019

7. SIMS Ingest/Batcher Module
Linux Batcher for OLS, AVHRR, SSM/I, QuikScat, PIPS (Grib)
Unix Batcher for RADARSAT
Imagery Available to Analysts in .img Format
4/8/2019

8. SIMS Analysis Module
Sensor Systems – Remote View is the Main Image Analysis Application
Search Engine
Area, Filename, Date
Line Drawing, Annotation On Imagery
Concurrent Line and Attribute Files
Uses Common Shape File Open Standard
4/8/2019

9. SIMS Analysis Module Robust Line Drawing and Editing Tools
Robust Zoom, Roam and Rotate Tools
Robust Enhancement and Navigation Tools
Robust Annotation Tools
“Two-Headed” System Allows for GIS Functions on One CRT and Image Analysis on the Other
4/8/2019

10. SIMS Analysis Module SIMS Output Products: Graphical – Currently JPEG
Spatial Data
ESRI .e00 Format For All Charts
SIGRID III For Hemispherics/Great Lakes
Messages (Lat/Long ASCII Text)
Annotated Imagery
4/8/2019

11. Main Menu
4/8/2019

12. Global Search
4/8/2019

13. Area Zoom
4/8/2019

14. Image matches for the selected area
4/8/2019

15. Vector matches for the search area
4/8/2019

16. Image selected
4/8/2019

17. Image Analysis
4/8/2019

18. Questions - Comments
Attribution on
Imagery
4/8/2019

19. NIC GIS Products
4/8/2019

20. 4/8/2019

21. SIMS Dissemination Module
Graphic (JPEG) Production Currently Separate From SIMS COTS System
Government Off The Shelf Application
Based on ArcView
Population of WWW Site Currently Separate from SIMS COTS System
Archive/Warehousing Data- NCDC/NSIDC
4/8/2019

22. NIC Raster Products
4/8/2019

23. IICWG Color Code
NIC Raster Products -
New Color Code
4/8/2019

24. Sea Ice Mapping System Advantages to Analysts
COTS Applications – Sensor Systems and ESRI Applications
Annotation of Imagery. Concurrent Production of Lines and Attributes Files Using Drop Down Menus Vice Typing
Compatible File Formats
Ingest/Display of Ancillary Data as Images
Advanced Reasoning using Knowledge To classify Sea-ice
Work being performed by Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis and Dr. Leen Kiat Soh at KU, Denise Gineris (ERIM contractor at NRLSSC) and Mary Ruth Keller (NIC analyst).
4/8/2019

25. SIMS Lessons Learned Stay Away From Custom Software
The Future Is Now?
Make Your Requirements Super-specific
Makes Contract Compliance Easier
We Had A Lot Of Problems
Manage Change For the Analysts
Include Comprehensive Training In The Original Proposal and Manage Closely
Advanced Reasoning using Knowledge To classify Sea-ice
Work being performed by Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis and Dr. Leen Kiat Soh at KU, Denise Gineris (ERIM contractor at NRLSSC) and Mary Ruth Keller (NIC analyst).
4/8/2019

26. SIMS – The Near Future Fundamental Changes
New Ingest/Batchers – WIPE by ACT, Inc.
Upgrade to New Version of Remote View
Move to ARCGIS (Object Oriented)
Requires Lots of Modifications to Scripts, etc.
Increased Use of Full/Semi Automated QC
Dissemination Using Database/www Portal
4/8/2019

27. International Co-operation
Look For Ways To Make Data Exchange Easy
International Coastline
Common Spatial Data Format
Common Attribution Format
Use of SIGRID III
Move Toward Common Architectures
Move Toward Common Systems
JIWG Learned Lots of Lessons in Moving Toward Common System – NAIS
4/8/2019

28. Questions?
4/8/2019