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Science Analysis, and Data SystemsERT scientists and analysts make unique contributions – bringing insight and skill to exploring data and developing innovative analyses. |
ERT delivers science research, data analysis, and software development services for Federal government. We specialize in algorithm development, modeling, data assimilation/visualization, and data and information systems in Earth sciences and remote sensing.
- Remote Sensing Algorithm and Instrument Calibration/Validation:ERT provides science support for NASA Goddard and NOAA NESDIS in remote sensing algorithm development to generate science products from satellite measurements. Specifically, we develop algorithms and radioactive transfer models to produce land, ocean, and atmospheric products such as atmospheric aerosol content, ocean chlorophyll measurement, and vegetation net primary productivity. For land and ocean products, we develop algorithms to remove atmospheric effects from instruments such as Landsat, MODIS, and SeaWiFs.
ERT has experience with satellite instrument calibration analyses, vicarious calibration and validation to field measurements on our NOAA/NESDIS/STAR contract. Our efforts focus on pre-launch and post-launch calibration for existing operational sensors on the NOAA GOES/POES sensors and planning pre-launch characterization for GOES-R and JPSS. We perform calibration characterization studies on NASA EOS instrument data and validate against field measurements.
- Modeling and Data Assimilation/Visualization: ERT provides research through operations support via high-end atmospheric modeling and data assimilation of air quality and emissions forecasting trajectories and deposition for NOAA Air Resources Lab and implementation into the NOAA NCEP operations. We integrate atmospheric emissions into analytical models, couple the models to describe physical and chemical evolution of atmospheric plumes, assemble observational data, and test each model against the observational data.
ERT performs high performance computing integration, testing, evaluation and system administration activities for the JCSDA/NOAA/NESDIS in their mission to compare, test, and evaluate a variety of NWP models and satellite data assimilation approaches from the various partners including NASA, DoD, NCAR, and NOAA NCEP. We develop and test data assimilation quality control and data preparation approaches for current operational satellites, as well as upcoming next generation satellite systems.
ERT supports NOAA National Geodetic Survey (NGS) in the geoid modeling of the Earth's surface. These models are used extensively in charting and are also relevant to efforts to determine sea level changes and long-term climatic changes. ERT staff develops and enhances the accuracy of the geoid models and develops visualization tools of model outputs.
ERT oceanographic modeling activities include NOAA/NOS plume modeling calibration and practical modeling set-up, ArcGIS experimental development for generating new graphical products for the display of oceanographic forecast model output, and development of a high-resolution marine grid to be used for populating the VDatum results.
- Science Data and Information Systems:ERT provides science data management, data processing, storage, archive, and distribution for multiple government agencies and offices. Our experience began with our work at NASA Goddard where we provided scientific data management, software development and help desk support to NASA's Earth Observation System Data Information System's (EOSDIS) core system and distributed active archive centers (DAACs). ERT scientists and scientific software developers support the NOAA Geodetic Survey, the Marine Charting Division and research groups concerned with ocean habitats. In these activities, ERT staff develop systems that ingest data, require other imported data sets for comparison or model initialization and model complex systems. For NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), we provide data ingest, archive and data access support of hydrographic and marine geophysical data sets, and data stewardship system support including ingest, processing, metadata management, and archive of all ocean in-situ and remotely sensed data, respectively.
ERT provides science data operations, software and system engineering, and customer support services to USGS's Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) data center. ERT supports land remote sensing (including satellite and airborne remote sensing) data ingest, processing, archive, access, distribution, logistics support, operations and maintenance.
- Ocean Research and Applications: ERT provides analytical research and technical and policy analyses for a variety of topics including marine spatial planning, environmental restoration, marine protection and climate change. We work with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) to prepare case materials, environmental assessments, damage assessments, and restoration/monitoring plans needed for ONMS activities (to include enforcement). ERT also supports coral, sponge, and other invertebrate morphological and SEM identification.
Our team of scientists, technologists, engineers, and economists apply sound research methodologies, consistent data management techniques, and concise analyses. We have 10 NOAA certified divers and staff involved in on-water activities, small-boat certified and conducting extensive research. In our work with NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Center, we routinely assemble and use statistical methods to analyze socio-economic data, with multivariate analyses, statistical error determination, and discriminators to determine the statistical significance of changes.
ERT supports the NOAA Office of Coast Survey (OCS) in the analysis and management of data from shipboard collection, buoy data instrumentation packages, field campaigns, and satellite/remote sensing platforms related to wind, air/water temperature, barometric pressure, conductivity, 1-minute water level data, and harmonic constituents. This data is correlated to support analysis of sea-level trends, climatic patterns, storm surge predictions, and tide predictions for coastal models, operational charts, and emergency response.
