NASA World Wind

What is NASA World Wind?

• A richly interactive 3D planetary visualization tool.

• Smart client architecture.• Portal for NASA data.• Integrates data from a

variety of sources.

Why NASAWorld Wind?

• NASA has a great wealth of planetary science data

• Standards-based and highly extensible .NET3D planetary viewing tool– Earth…Moon…Mars…

• Supports research, academia, education and public awareness

Smart Client Technology

• Algorithms optimize the integration and seamless blending of multiple data sources

– Combine diverse data formats of broad ranging resolutions

– Data is streamed simultaneously from multiple servers

Extensible Technology

• API architecture provides for a fully configurable client

– Unlimited customization via plug-ins

• E.g., Real-time tracking of the International Space Station, etc.

– Unlimited functionality via XML files and plug-in modules without any need to change the code

• Digital Aeronautical Flight Information (NGA)

Plug-In Example

• Air Traffic Control

– Flight path visualization

– Air traffic patterns and other 3D simulations readily shared and analyzed

– Provide more intuitive views than traditional projection, e.g., polar routes

Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File

Base Data Composition

DAACs

Earth Science• NASA Geospatial Interoperability

Office building portal to DAAC’s. World Wind will deliver the 3D data.

Planetary Science

• International 10-week 10th-grade curriculum on the origin of life developed via Space Act agreement with Australia & the U.K.

• NASA Earth Science curriculum development

Education Significance

Humanitarian Significance

• UN Division of Early Warning and Assessment– World health, agricultural support,

drought forecast, etc.

• US Agency for International Development– SERVIR MesoAmerica Project

• World Wind used at the presidential decision-making level for Costa Rica and Panama regarding the Sixaola River, their international border, where flooding caused the ‘border’ to change.

International Significance

Press

International computer magazines: Germany, Poland, Greece, Italy, China, Japan, Hungary, Netherlands, U.K., Spain, etc.

Total Use

• >100,000 new unique IPs per week

• >1 million downloads a month

• >100 requests for imagery per second

Open Source Benefits

• Enhanced Software Quality– Open source community provides

increasing sophistication and expansion of features and functionality

– Extensive testing of new and existing features on a wide range of software and hardware configurations

– Extensive bug identification, tracking, and resolution

Conclusion

• Provides the standards-based platform for effective expansion of an information delivery infrastructure.

• Leverages entrenched technology, just as with the first generation web browser, but now for 3D data.

• Unlimited commercial opportunities via proprietary plug-in modules for information delivery.

• Millions of users distributed among federal agencies, academic institutions, commercial organizations, and the general public.