Maximizing the Value of Solar System Data Through Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructures

Abstract

Planetary spatial data returned by spacecraft, including images and higher-order products such as mosaics, controlled basemaps, and digital elevation models (DEMs), are of critical importance to NASA, its commercial partners and other space agencies (e.g., NASA Data Plan 2014). Planetary spatial data are an essential component of basic scientific research and sustained planetary exploration and operations. The Planetary Data System (PDS) is performing the essential job of archiving and serving these data, mostly in raw or calibrated form, with less support for higher-order, more ready-to-use products. However, many planetary spatial data remain not readily accessible to and/or usable by the general science user because particular skills and tools are necessary to process and interpret them from the raw initial state. In addition, many spatial data do not have uniform spatial scales and/or have not been accurately registered to a standard cartographic base, prohibiting simple tasks such as locating features or measuring distances or elevations. There is a critical need for planetary spatial data to be more accessible and usable to researchers and stakeholders. A Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructure (PSDI) is a collection of data, tools, standards, policies, and the people that use and engage with them. A PSDI comprises an overarching support system for planetary spatial data. PSDIs (1) establish effective plans for data acquisition; (2) create and make available higher-order products; and (3) consider long-term planning for correct data acquisition, processing and serving (including funding). PSDIs improve the potential for correlating existing and future datasets in ways that will increase the overall scientific return, enable new research activities and inspire the general public and next generation scientists. We recommend that Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructures be created for all bodies and key regions in the Solar System. NASA, with guidance from the planetary science community, should follow established data format standards to build foundational and framework products and use those to build and apply PDSIs to all bodies. Establishment of PSDIs is critical in the coming decade for several locations under active or imminent exploration, and for all others for future planning and current scientific analysis. Only through these efforts can Solar System spatial data, of great scientific value and acquired at great cost, be used to its maximum potential and help NASA achieve its goals.