DOC; Mountain Administrative Support Center; Acquisition Management Division; 325 Broadway MC3; Boulder, CO 80303-3328

A -- 96HYPERSPECTRAL ANALYSIS PLUG-IN SOFTWARE FOR CORAL REEF ANALYSIS DUE 021500 POC Dr. Chris Elvidge, (303) 497-6121 E-MAIL: NOAA; MASC Acquisitions Management, Brenda.S.Summers@noaa.gov. The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) of the U.S. = Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seek a highly-qualified Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) partner to develop and commercialize prototype Hyperspectral Analysis Plug-In software for Coral Reef Analysis. This software toolkit will = be optimized for detailed mapping of the physical and biologic components/characteristics of coral reefs and near-shore waters. The software will feature options for removal of primary atmospheric effects, estimation of the proportions of major spectral classes, and the spectral identification of key seafloor classes, such as sediments, seagrass, rock outcrops, and a variety of coral species and occurrences. A spectral library of shallow water physical and biological constituents will be developed and incorporated in the software. Other components will include evaluation, development, and testing of algorithms and procedures to georeference hyperspectral = data, mosaic overlapping images, and radiometrically adjust images combined = in mosaics for seamless analysis across image boundaries. The CRADA = partner will work with NGDC to define key scientific requirements; determine software specifications; implement prototypes; develop, evaluate, and test algorithms; produce technical documentation; conduct pilot = projects to test advanced algorithm development from unclassified and DoD classified data sources; and perform sensor intercomparison studies for coral reefs and near shore waters.This proposed cooperative agreement = is not for the development of basic hyperspectral data ingest, viewing, or analysis capabilities; these capabilities already exist and can easily be applied to near-shore marine problems. The thrust of this work effort is 1) to assist the government in utilizing and extending existing hyperspectral capabilities for coral reef studies rather than replicating them in new software environments or tools, 2) to cost effectively and efficiently implement new algorithms and capabilities specific to analysis of the near-shore marine environment and coral reefs, and 3) to commercialize the results of 1 and 2 above. Accordingly, the accepted industry-standard hyperspectral analysis software, ENVI, "The Environment for Visualizing Images" and its underlying 4GL development language, IDL (Interactive Data Language), will be used as the standardized development environment for this CRADA project in support of coral reef research. The standard ENVI COTS software distribution, with IDL, provides comprehensive capabilities = for adding new, custom functionality, without the high overhead costs associated with new development in a lower level language such as FORTRAN or C. The burdens of data input, memory management, display, and output are handled by internal ENVI routines, and removed from the developer. The prospective CRADA partner will have extensive = experience in using ENVI for scientific analysis in a variety of disciplines, with at least some of that experience being in the analysis of near-shore marine waters. The CRADA partner must also demonstrate exceptional knowledge of ENVI development paradigms, the underlying program structure, ENVI User Functions and Compound Widgets used for program extension, and the IDL programming language. The CRADA partner will = act as the focal point for utilizing these capabilities in the areas of new research, implementation of algorithms important to the government, and further development of ENVI Plug-In software.Potential software developed for coral reef remote sensing analysis in conjunction with this CRADA can be divided into two categories, privately developed and jointly developed. Private software for the purposes of near-shore marine/coral reef studies may be developed independently by the CRADA partner at its sole discretion for direct implementation into the ENVI environment. Private software will be commercialized by the CRADA partner without restriction. Jointly developed software may result = from combined CRADA Partner/Government cooperative efforts and be produced = in the form of ENVI Plug-Ins with the assistance of the CRADA partner. Jointly developed plug-in software may, depending on functionality and mutual agreement between the CRADA partner and NGDC may be provided free-of charge to the user community, or may be integrated into a larger, more comprehensive "ENVI Extension" to be commercially marketed to the public. As part of the CRADA, NGDC may receive (negotiable) royalty payments and/or in-kind payments for any jointly-produced software marketed as an ENVI Extension.Selection criteria: Selection of the CRADA partner will be based on experience and capability (particularly with respect to ENVI/IDL competence); proposed level and length of commitment to engineering, development, testing, marketing, and product support; proposed marketing strategy; ability to locate staff in Boulder for an extended length of time; and benefit to the Government (sum of cash payments, contributions in kind, and royalties). Access to some of the anticipated data sources may = require a security clearance, so applicants should list the security clearances held by each of the proposed staff. Proposals should contain no classified information. Selection will be made by a four-person panel = of Boulder-based Government scientists, engineers, and/or managers. NGDC wishes to sign a CRADA before 1 June 2000. Contact Dr. Chris Elvidge (303) 497-6121, cde@ngdc.noaa.gov on technical issues or Rashelle Richardson (303) 497-6480, rsr@ngdc.noaa.gov on administrative issues. Written responses are to be submitted to Chris Elvidge, Office of the Director, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303 no later than 3P.M. MST, February 15, 2000. Posted 12/09/99 (D-SN407328). (0343)

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