STAR ASSISTT: Facilitating JPSS Algorithm Change Process

The NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Research and Applications (STAR) provides technical support of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) algorithm development and integration tasks in coordination with the JPSS Ground Project Data Products Engineering & Services (DPES) Team. Utilizing data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, JPSS generates over thirty Environmental Data Records (EDRs) and Intermediate Products (IPs) spanning atmospheric, ocean, cryosphere, and land weather disciplines. The Algorithm Scientific Software Integration and System Transition Team (ASSISTT) brings technical expertise and support to product algorithms, specifically in testing and validating science algorithms in the Algorithm Development Library (ADL) environment. ASSISTT aids the JPSS science teams in implementing algorithm updates through the algorithm change process. Working with the science teams, ASSISTT integrates algorithm software, adapting the pre-operational algorithm source code for an operational environment, and preparing algorithm change packages. ASSISTT verifies that new and updated algorithms function in the development environment, enforces established software development standards, and ensures that delivered packages are functional and complete. To aid the algorithm teams with algorithm validation, ASSISTT has created pipeline processing scripts to automate the process of producing EDRs along multiple test baselines within ADL and employs configuration management to track software changes. ASSISTT facilitates the development of new JPSS-1 algorithms by implementing a review approach based on the Enterprise Product Lifecycle (EPL) process. Building on relationships established during the S-NPP algorithm development process and coordinating directly with science algorithm developers, the ASSISTT has implemented structured reviews with self-contained document suites. The process has supported algorithm improvements for products such as ozone, active fire, vegetation index, and temperature and moisture profiles. The details of the ASSISTT role in the algorithm change process shall be discussed.