GeoIPS: Next Generation Satellite Data Processing Capability at NRL

The Geo-located Information Processing System (GeoIPS) is a newly developed python-based satellite data processing capability developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA to accommodate the next generation of environmental satellite sensors. GeoIPS provides a portable, highly modular, reusable, object-oriented framework for applying advanced processing algorithms to a wide variety of environmental datasets including, but not limited to, geostationary and low earth orbit sensors, numerical weather prediction (NWP) model output, and in-situ observations (e.g. Unmanned Aerial Systems).

Individual tasks (e.g. data ingest, geographic mapping, graphical plotting, processing scientific-oriented algorithms, etc.) are performed by individual packages, each of which can be easily replaced by upgrades in future technology or customized to meet research and development (R&D) and operational needs. Modularity allows GeoIPS to be flexible in terms of how its base functions operate and for adding new data processing algorithms.

GeoIPS is being developed in-house as a Navy-owned package free of proprietary software and file formats and is scalable to suit future needs. This software is intended to directly replace the current TeraScan-based satellite data processing software employed at operational Navy centers. GeoIPS will allow for more rapid R&D prototyping with an efficient transition path from R&D to operations, while providing the ability to incorporate future growth and technological advancement. Furthermore, the open source foundation of this work makes it easier to transition to partners (such as NOAA and NASA). The system is easily portable to non-R&D systems and could potentially be deployed at operational centers or on-board ship-based platforms, providing a “push-forward” rather than “reach-back” capability in order to allow data to be accessible to users for mission planning and implementation.

Current near real-time capabilities include ingest and processing of Suomi NPP VIIRS and Himawari-8 AHI data, producing various imagery for environmental characterization. Preparations are underway for GeoIPS to ingest and process upcoming data sets that include JPSS-1 VIIRS and GOES-R/S imagers.