GOES LRIT Concept and Implementation

Marlin O. Perkins

Marlin O. Perkins is a physical scientist in NOAA with more than 28 years of system development and implementation experience. Over the years, Marlin has been involved in implementation or training for the Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) system, the meteorological activities in the Interactive Processing Branch, interactive techniques for derived imagery products, managed the operations of the VISSR Image Registration and Girding System (VIRGS) to support the navigation of the GOES spacecrafts, development and implementation of the Interactive Flash Flood Analyzer (IFFA) for generating precipitation estimates from geostationary data. Marlin was the prime architect of the VAS Data Utilization Center (VDUC) and Multi-discipline Interactive Display and Analysis System (MIDAS) systems for processing and distributing the GOES I-M data.

Mr. Perkins participated in the processes necessary for the planning and procurement of future operational geostationary and polar orbiting environmental spacecraft systems for NESDIS. He led NOAA's effort to transition from the APT analog format to the new LRPT digital format. Mr. Perkins was the primary participant in the planning and implementing of future information systems and data management facilities for NOAA, NESDIS, and the NESDIS Data Centers.

Currently, Marlin coordinates user requirements to support future broadcast services for polar- orbiting and geostationary satellite constellations. In this capacity, Mr. Perkins represents NOAA on international teams for issues concerning data dissemination. He is responsible for the NOAA transition from the current WEFAX analog transmission to the new LRIT digital broadcast. Implementation and transition of the NOAA's LRIT service is scheduled to begin in January 2003. Mr. Perkins coordinates NOAA requirements for low-cost terminals to support the GOES LRIT and the NOAA NPOESS users.