Science On a Sphere

SOS in the Planet Theater at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, CO

The Canyon World in the Science On a Sphere Theater at Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

Science On a Sphere (SOS) is a spherical projection system created by NOAA. It presents high-resolution video on a suspended globe rather than a flat screen, with the aim of better representing global phenomena. Animated images of atmospheric storms, climate change, and ocean temperature can be shown on the sphere to explain these complex environmental processes. SOS systems are most frequently installed in science museums, universities, zoos, and research institutions, although new and novel uses for these systems in a variety of presentation spaces and contexts are starting to emerge.

The system is installed in more than 100 locations worldwide.

Configuration

SOS uses many off-the-shelf hardware and software components combined into an innovative format. A spherical screen covered in ordinary latex paint hangs suspended in the center of a projection space. The screen is inert; it neither moves nor has any electronic parts. Surrounding the screen are four video projectors, positioned at ninety degree increments around the screen. Each projector is responsible for one quadrant of screen space. One CPU with three graphics cards (two for the projector output and one for the user interface) is used to control the system. The custom written SOS software runs on Linux.

SOS was invented by Alexander E. MacDonald, the director of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, CO, and OAR Deputy Assistant Administrator for the NOAA Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. MacDonald devised the original idea for Science On a Sphere in 1995 as part of other data visualization work he oversaw in what was the former NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory. A small but highly motivated and inventive team of NOAA staff led by chief designer David Himes wrote the SOS software and developed the SOS hardware and system architecture. This work enabled MacDonald's invention to move out from the laboratory and into performance spaces. A patent was awarded to NOAA for Science On a Sphere in August 2005, with MacDonald credited as the inventor. General system architecture and configuration specifications are as follows. http://sos.noaa.gov/Docs/SOSFloorplan.pdf

The sphere

The carbon fiber sphere is 68 inches (1.7 m) in diameter. Other sphere sizes are possible, but would require custom engineering (at additional cost to the SOS recipient). The 68" sphere with a single seam at the equator weighs under 50 pounds (23 kg). The sphere is attached to the ceiling or suspension structure with a three-point suspension system to hold the sphere in place and reduce lateral movement. If the sphere moves, the images become un-focused. The cables are designed for strength yet small enough to blend into the background.

The projectors

The system requires high quality, bright, long duty cycle projectors generally permanently installed in board rooms and high end home theaters rather than smaller portable and consumer models to endure the requirements of 8–10 hours per day, 7 days per week of most public displays. System designers also recommend a minimum of 3500 lumens. The projectors used in the NC Aquarium installation use 4 Sony VPL-FE40 projectors rated at 4000 ANSI lumens costing over $4000 each.

The computer hardware

The computer hardware used for SOS is constantly evolving based on what is available on the market. The newest configuration uses one Ubuntu linux computer with NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, a Wii Remote, and an iPad app to control the Science On a Sphere. Previous versions used five Red Hat Linux computers.

SOS data details

The majority of SOS assets are so-called "datasets". Originally conceived as a video system for showing space based collections of Earth data, SOS has grown in its utility. The majority of data that traditionally appears on the SOS screens concerns the Earth, either from near-real-time data acquisition systems, or from processed remote sensing platforms. But recent interest and growth in different kinds of media have started to broaden that library. There are currently over 250 datasets that can be shown on the sphere, including real-time infrared satellite images, Mars, real-time Earthquakes, an ocean acidification model, and many more. The entire catalog can be found online here: http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/.

An equirectangular projection of the Earth; the standard parallel is the equator.

The data format for SOS datasets is the equidistant cylindrical equatorial projection, also referred to as equirectangular projection, as shown by the map to the right. Textures, or single images, such as Mars or the Moon, are jpeg or png files that have a minimum resolution of 2048x1024 and a preferred resolution of 4096x2048. Animations, such as a 24-hour air traffic loop or real-time weather over the course of a week, are mp4 files that have a preferred resolution of 2048x1024.

All of the datasets for Science On a Sphere are available online in the SOS Dataset Catalog. The datasets are divided into six main categories: Land, Ocean, Atmosphere, Astronomy, Models and Simulations, and Extras. The Extras category contains all the narrated movies highlighted below. The datasets come from many different organizations, including NOAA, NASA, NREL, universities, and science museums. Many of the sites that have SOS are creating new custom content for their site.

SOS User's Collaborative Network

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA supports the use of spherical display systems, such as SOS, in public exhibits as part of a focused effort to increase environmental literacy. The institutions that currently have NOAA's Science On a Sphere, as well as other partners who are creating content and educational programming for these systems, have formed a collaborative network . The SOS Users Collaborative Network is supported by NOAA’s Office of Education (OEd) and the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) to provide a mechanism for these institutions to work together to maximize the effectiveness of the SOS system as an Earth system science education platform.

Network meetings and workshops

NOAA’s Office of Education (OEd) hosts workshops of the SOS Users Collaborative Network in order to allow Network to inform NOAA on investment and development decisions related to the SOS system and to provide a mechanism for member institutions to work together to maximize the effectiveness of SOS as an Earth system science education platform. These workshops, which are typically 2.5 days in duration, provide a valuable opportunity for members of the Network to meet in person to focus on key issues. Past meetings have included:

• January 22–24, 2007, Network Workshop held at Maryland Science Center, Baltimore,MD
• October 14, 2007, Network Meeting held at the Association of Science-Technology Centers conference in Los Angeles, CA
• July 29–31, 2008, Network Workshop held at Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI and Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo, HI
• October 20, 2008, Network Meeting held at the Association of Science-Technology Centers conference in Philadelphia, PA
• November 17–19, 2009, Network Workshop held at NOAA Earth System Research Lab and Fiske Planetarium
• May 3–5, 2011, Network Workshop held at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL
• November 6-8, 2012, Network Workshop held at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA
• June 10-12, 2014, Network Workshop held at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, MN

SOS evaluation

The User's Collaborative Network is currently involved in a program-wide evaluation of the effectiveness of exhibits featuring spherical display systems. Many of the SOS sites have conducted their own evaluation reports as well to better understand the educational impacts of Science On a Sphere.

Locations

Science On a Sphere is installed in science museums, zoos and aquariums, and visitors centers around the world. New sites are continually being added:

Site	Location	Date
NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory	Boulder, CO
Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame	Seattle, WA	May, 2004
Nauticus - The National Maritime Center	Norfolk, VA	May, 2005
Science Museum of Minnesota	St. Paul, MN	Jan, 2006
Bernice P. Bishop Museum	Honolulu, HI	Feb, 2006
The Tech Museum of Innovation	San Jose, CA	Mar, 2006
Maryland Science Center	Baltimore, MD	Apr, 2006
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Visitors Center	Greenbelt, MD	Apr, 2006
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary	Alpena, MI	Jun, 2006
Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii	Hilo, HI	Nov, 2006
James Madison University	Harrisonburg, VA	Nov, 2006
McWane Science Center	Birmingham, AL	Feb, 2007
Fiske Planetarium and Science Center at the University of Colorado	Boulder, CO	Mar, 2007
Orlando Science Center	Orlando, Florida	May, 2007
Museum of Science and Industry	Chicago, IL	Jun, 2007
NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory	Norman, OK	Aug, 2007
Ocean Explorium	New Bedford, MA	Dec, 2007
Clark Planetarium	Salt Lake City, UT	Mar, 2008
Lawrence Hall of Science	Berkeley, CA	Apr, 2008
National Museum of Natural Science	Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.	May, 2008
Gwacheon National Science Museum	Gwacheon, Republic of Korea	Jun, 2008
National Renewable Energy Laboratory	Golden, CO	Jul, 2008
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History	Washington, D.C.	Jul, 2008
International Museum of Art & Science	McAllen, TX	Aug, 2008
Microsoft Visitor Center	Redmond, WA	Aug, 2008
Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute	Juneau, AK	Sep, 2008
Wallops Visitor Center	Wallops Island, VA	Nov, 2008
National Museum of Surveying	Springfield, IL	Nov, 2008
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery	Dayton, OH	Dec, 2008
Climate Institute	Puebla, Mexico	Dec, 2008
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts	Harrisburg, PA	Jan, 2009
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island	Manteo, NC	Feb, 2009
National Zoo	Washington, D.C.	Feb, 2009
Alaska State Museum	Juneau, AK	Mar, 2009
Stennis Space Center	MS	Mar, 2009
The Wildlife Experience	Parker, CO	Apr, 2009
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie	Paris, France	Jun, 2009
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry	Portland, OR	Jul, 2009
Heureka, The Finnish Science Centre	Vantaa, Finland	Aug, 2009
Houston Museum of Natural Science	Sugarland, Texas	Sep, 2009
Discovery Science Center	Santa Ana, CA	Oct, 2009
Challenger Learning Center	Atwater, CA	Jan, 2010
Natural History Museum	Mexico City, Mexico	Jan, 2010
Astronaut Hall of Fame	Titusville, FL	Jan, 2010
China Beijiko Meteorological Museum	Nanjing, PRC	Jan, 2010
Cité de l'espace	Toulouse, France	Feb, 2010
Denver Museum of Nature and Science	Denver, CO	Feb, 2010
Point Reyes National Seashore	Point Reyes, CA	Apr, 2010
Central Weather Bureau	Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.	May, 2010
Bay Education Center	Rockport, TX	Jun, 2010
Climate Institute	Cuernavaca, Mexico	Jul, 2010
Pacific Science Center	Seattle, WA	Sep, 2010
Danville Science Center	Danville, VA	Oct, 2010
London Science Museum	London, England	Nov, 2010
Climate Institute	Chilpancingo, Mexico	Dec, 2010
Climate Institute	Atlacomulco, Mexico	Dec, 2010
Climate Institute	Metepec, Mexico	Dec, 2010
Climate Institute, Casa de la Tierra	Veracruz, Mexico	Dec, 2010
Climate Institute, Planetario de Morelia	Morelia, Mexico	Dec, 2010
Science Museum of Virginia	Richmond, VA	Jan, 2011
Climate Institute	Acapulco, Mexico	Feb, 2011
Aquarium of the Pacific	Long Beach, CA	Mar, 2011
Detroit Zoo	Royal Oak, MI	Apr, 2011
Beijing Huaxinchuanzi Technology Co., Ltd.	Beijing, PRC	Apr, 2011
KIGAM Geological Museum	Daejeon, Republic of Korea	Apr, 2011
Our Planet Centre	Castries, St. Lucia	Apr, 2011
Nurture Nature Center	Easton, PA	May, 2011
Climate Factory	Holeby, Denmark	May, 2011
Climate Institute	Texcoco, Mexico	May, 2011
Climate Institute	Valle de Bravo, Mexico	May, 2011
Climate Institute	Villahermosa, Mexico	Aug, 2011
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada	Aug, 2011
Aldo Leopold Nature Center	Monona, WI	Aug, 2011
Climate Institute	Chetumal, Mexico	Sep, 2011
Grand Canyon National Park	Grand Canyon, AZ	Oct, 2011
China Maritime Museum	Shanghai, PRC	Nov, 2011
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)	Concord, NH	Dec, 2011
Science Centre Singapore	Singapore	Jan, 2012
Science City at Union Station	Kansas City, MO	Jan, 2012
Daegu National Science Museum	Daegu, Republic of Korea	Feb, 2012
Climate Institute	Oaxaca, Mexico	Mar, 2012
Instituto Oceanografico da Universidade de São Paulo	São Paulo, Brazil	Apr, 2012
The Wild Center	Tupper Lake, NY	May, 2012
Governor Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center	Pago Pago, American Samoa	Jul, 2012
Space Foundation	Colorado Springs, CO	Jul, 2012
The Climate Corporation	San Francisco, CA	Aug, 2012
Telus World of Science	Edmonton, Canada	Sep, 2012
Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila	Saltillo, Mexico	Oct, 2012
Gwangju National Science Museum	Gwangju, Republic of Korea	Nov, 2012
National Youth Space Center	Goheung, Republic of Korea	Nov, 2012
Great Valley Museum - Modesto Junior College	Modesto, CA	Dec, 2012
China Science and Technology Museum	Beijing, PRC	Dec, 2012
Fuzhou Science and Technology Museum	Fuzhou, PRC	Jan, 2013
South Florida Science Museum	West Palm Beach, FL	Jan, 2013
E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center	Freeport, FL	Mar, 2013
Cyberinfrastructure Building at Indiana University	Bloomington, IN	Apr, 2013
Museo delle Scienze	Trento, Italy	May, 2013
Centro de Educación y Vigilancia Climática Global	Ciudad Victoria, México	Dec, 2013
Discovery Center	Higashimatsushima, Japan	Mar, 2014
Imagination Station Science Museum	Wilson, NC	Apr, 2014
St. Charles High School	Waldorf, MD	Apr, 2014
Climate Institute	Monterrey, Mexico	Jun, 2014
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum	Bangalore, India	Jul, 2014
Exploreum	Pasay City, Philippines	Aug, 2014
Precision Planting	Tremont, IL	Sep, 2014
Discovery Cube Los Angeles	Sylmar, CA	Sep, 2014
MTA Natural History Museum	Ankara, Turkey	Sep, 2014
Heureka — The Finnish Science Centre	Helsinki, Finland	Nov, 2014

Films

In the Fall of 2005 the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ordered what would become the eighth SOS to be permanently installed. Michael Starobin, Goddard's senior media producer at the time, began the process of developing a presentation that would showcase NASA data. Through the autumn of 2005 and into the winter of 2006, Starobin worked on collecting source material to craft this presentation. Faced with the challenge of producing a seamless product akin to traditional video programs, Starobin came up with the idea for presenting video content from source material that did not originate as inherently spherical data. The goal would be to blend one edge of a video or still photographic frame with the opposite edge in order to create a fully spherical image. In the beginning of 2006, a small but powerful team of NASA Goddard staff joined the project, including data visualizers from the Scientific Visualization Studio and master editor and digital artist Victoria Weeks. On May 4, 2006 the team unveiled Footprints, the world's first fully realized spherical film. The project demonstrated a number of dramatic new techniques for visual conceptualization, including the idea of a seamless visual wrap.

Since the release of Footprints, several other movies have been made or are currently in production for SOS, including:

• Blue Planet Produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota and the American Museum of Natural History, this project examines the role of water in a variety of Earth processes.
• Cooking Up a Storm Produced by Rockwell Schrock, NOAA Hollings Scholar for the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, as a summer project.
• Coral Science from Outer Space to Inner Space Produced by NOAA as part of the International Year of the Reef 2008.
• Energy Planet This short film, commissioned by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is believed to be the first SOS project produced by a fully private production company.
• Energy Revolution NREL commissioned a sequel to Energy Planet, with a focus on five core technologies that can have significant positive influence on the nation's growing energy needs. It debuted at the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
• Frozen Working with the most advanced satellite data available from NASA, FROZEN showcases those places on Earth where temperatures don’t generally rise above water’s freezing point.
• Largest Jupiter is not only the most massive planet in the solar system, but it may be one of the most influential as well. In LARGEST, NASA takes a close look at Jupiter, and considers its scientific and poetic place in the solar system.
• Return to the Moon To commemorate the 40th anniversary of first Moon landing and to celebrate NASA's newest vehicle to visit the moon—the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter—the Space Agency commissioned this short film.
• Tsunami NOAA, in partnership with the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP), produced "Tsunami", a new Science On a Sphere (SOS) presentation to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
• Flow: Currents and Climate Produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota, this piece looks at the role of oceans in the global climate.
• Forecast: Tropical Cyclone Produced by the American Museum of Natural History, this dataset provides an overview of the history of forecasting tropical cyclones and insights into the future of forecasting.
• "Loop" Everything in the universe seeks equilibrium. But equilibrium is elusive, with destabilizing forces always knocking things off kilter. In this NASA movie, data visualizations and dramatic imagery of the natural world present a science story about equilibrium in an inventive, conceptual way, and illustrate the propulsive essence of circulation in its many forms.

See also

SOS Explorer, the desktop version of SOS for Windows and Mac computers, was released in September 2015 and is free for classroom or personal use.

• Virtual globe

External links

• Official website