Related Projects: World Wind

Advanced data integration and visualization technologies will be a critical enabling factor in future space missions, and RIACS is at the forefront of NASA’s efforts to develop next-generation mission operations and health monitoring applications.

In the area of mission operations, current research is focused on developing technologies that layer or "mash" together information from a wide range of geographic and informational data sources into a single, interactive 3D interface. By blending together information from historical missions with real-time data, mission personnel will have fingertip access to the collective body of data for a given mission. This will dramatically improve decision-making capabilities as well as operational efficiency.

These visually rich applications will be utilized throughout the entire mission life cycle, from mission planning and simulation through actual operations to post-mission analysis.

Outside of the realm of mission operations, image analysis and data fusion research is being applied to the development of next-generation medical imaging. Today, a wide variety of scanning devices can create both real-time and static imagery of the human body, aiding in medical observation, analysis and diagnosis.

Usually, the real-time data is very low resolution, while the static imagery is generally of very high resolution. Research currently underway is seeking to fuse this data, so that a mapping of high-resolution static imagery can be animated by using real-time data from low-resolution imagery.

Driving the need for such research is the demanding requirements of human space flight. Long-duration space travel will require astronauts to be away from home for possibly years at a time. The medical capabilities that future space exploration vehicles provide to astronauts must not only accurately diagnose and provide treatment of potential illnesses, but also proactively monitor the health of humans on board, and provide them with preventive techniques to help them avoid illness.