Developing and operating complex information technology infrastructure is a key skill essential for the success of sophisticated remote sensing missions and application projects. The Information Technology department (DFD-INF) makes an important contribution by providing software and systems engineering, systems operations, and quality management. The focus is on providing basic services central to the achievements of diverse projects and departments:
- Data and information management and long-term archiving of remote sensing data
- User information services and geodata access
- IT management and engineering
- Quality management
The department assumes responsibility for the development, integration, and systems operation of the entire order management process and product flow, from data reception to delivery, for national satellite projects. It also performs functions required in common by the entire ground segment, such as IT engineering for subsystems and quality management. TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X and EnMAP are current examples illustrating this role in satellite missions.
The Data Information and Management System (DIMS), originally developed for national missions, is now also being used in other ground segments and data centers, for example at seven European Space Agency (ESA) locations. This development is a consequence of participation in international projects and is being realized together with a development partner, Werum Software & Systems. In the context of cooperation with EUMETSAT, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, the Earth Observation Center (EOC) provides ozone maps making use of DIMS technology. The systems are characterized by near-real-time functionality and high availability.
DIMS thus is the software basis for the data management inside the German Satellite Data Archive (D-SDA) - also being operated by the Information Technology department. Looking beyond mission lifetimes the D-SDA ensures sustainable long-term availability and usability of the archived Earth observation data and derived geospatial products.
The core topics addressed by the Information Technology team follow common development lines in order to create sustainable systems solutions. In this development work, particular attention is paid to abstraction, generalization, and reuse.