An Application of Narrowing the Information Gap Between Data Providers and Decision Makers Through a Disaster Response Scenario

A scenario-based distributed information system for operationally building the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) is presented as part of Northrop Grumman's participation in the GEOSS ten- year Architecture Implementation Pilot plan. Northrop Grumman is responding to the application challenge of implementing GEOSS capabilities by adding several U.S. Global Earth Observing (USGEO) data providers through architecture development and multiple scenario demonstrations, one of which is Natural Disaster Response. The scenarios ensure responders collaborate with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Societal Benefit Area working groups and external agencies. A six-stage disaster cycle is executed for a major hurricane and flooding scenario on the Port of Houston that incorporates multiple user communities and demonstrates how communities of practice may be applied to extend information sharing in response to disasters. The scenario is user driven and uses products derived from existing earth observing systems. The enterprise model for this hurricane and flooding scenario depicts an end-to-end approach to executing disaster response management. The centrality of the community portal in creating a coordinated disaster response cannot be overstated. Northrop Grumman has reached interoperability agreements with multiple community data providers whose goal is to make their data and products accessible as "persistent exemplars" within GEOSS to global users and decision makers. As multiple GEO community members integrate their data and services into GEOSS, the whole of GEOSS becomes much more than the sum of its components; however, GEOSS must deliver high-value information easily understood by decision makers through smart source selection. When this occurs, and GEOSS becomes operational, the information gap will narrow between systems, providers, analysts, and decision makers.