Earth Observing System

Concentration on Near-Term EOSDIS Development May Jeopardize Long-Term Success Gao ID: T-AIMD-95-103 March 16, 1995

The Earth Observing System's Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is intended to study global change by gathering information on how the earth functions as a single, integrated system. In a January 1994 report, the National Research Council recommended that EOSDIS be redesigned to make it more open and distributed, with much more control and responsibility for data processing going to the scientists who will use the system. NASA has since revamped EOSDIS' technical architecture to make it more flexible and accommodating to the unique needs of data users and researchers. Key members of the scientific community have endorsed these changes. Nevertheless, GAO has concerns about NASA's development strategy for EOSDIS and its approach to mitigating the significant risks inherent in this large, technically complex project. This testimony discusses two aspects of EOSDIS' development: (1) knowing who the expected users of the system will be and how they will use the system and (2) finding the appropriate balance between near- and long-term EOSDIS development needs. GAO also discusses options that others have identified for improving EOSDIS and saving money.



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