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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Standardizing Navigation Data: A Status Update

This paper presents the work of the Navigation Working Group of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) on development of standards addressing the transfer of orbit, attitude and tracking data for space objects. Much progress has been made since the initial presentation of the standards in 2004, including the progression of the orbit data standard to an accepted standard, and the near completion of the attitude and tracking data standards. The orbit, attitude and tracking standards attempt to address predominant parameterizations for their respective data, and create a message format that enables communication of the data across space agencies and other entities. The messages detailed in each standard are built upon a keyword = value paradigm, where a fixed list of keywords is provided in the standard where users specify information about their data, and also use keywords to encapsulate their data. The paper presents a primer on the CCSDS standardization process to put in context the state of the message standards, and the parameterizations supported in each standard, then shows examples of these standards for orbit, attitude and tracking data. Finalization of the standards is expected by the end of calendar year 2007.

VanEepoel, John M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

A thorough assessment of China’s standard for energy consumption of buildings

China's Design Standard for Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings (the Design Standard) is widely used in the design phase to regulate the energy efficiency of physical assets (envelope, lighting, HVAC) in buildings. However, the standard does not consider many important factors that influence the actual energy use in buildings, and this can lead to gaps between the design estimates and actual energy consumption. To achieve the national energy savings targets defined in the strategic 12th Five-Year Plan, China developed the first standard for energy consumption of buildings GB/T51161-2016 (the Consumption Standard). This study provides an overview of the Consumption Standard, identifies its strengths and weaknesses, and recommends future improvements. The analysis and discussion of the constraint value and the leading value, two key indicators of the energy use intensity, provide insight into the intent and effectiveness of the Consumption Standard. The results indicated that consistency between China's Design Standard GB 50189-2015 and the Consumption Standard GB/T51161-2016 could be achieved if the Design Standard used the actual building operations and occupant behavior in calculating the energy use in Chinese buildings. The development of an outcome-based code in the U.S. was discussed in comparison with China's Consumption Standard, and this revealed the strengths and challenges associated with implementing a new compliance method based on actual energy use in buildings in the U.S. Overall, this study provides important insights into the latest developments of actual consumption-based building energy standards, and this information should be valuable to building designers and energy policy makers in China and the U.S.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2018

Proposal and evaluation of subordinate standard solar irradiance spectra for applications in solar energy systems

Reference solar irradiance spectra are needed to specify key parameters of solar technologies such as photovoltaic cell efficiency, in a comparable way. The IEC 60904-3 and ASTM G173 standards present such spectra for Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) and Global Tilted Irradiance (GTI) on a 37 degrees tilted sun-facing surface for one set of clear-sky conditions with an air mass of 1.5 and low aerosol content. The IEC/G173 standard spectra are the widely accepted references for these purposes. Hence, the authors support the future replacement of the outdated ISO 9845 spectra with the IEC spectra within the ongoing update of this ISO standard. The use of a single reference spectrum per component of irradiance is important for clarity when comparing and rating solar devices such as PV cells. However, at some locations the average spectra can differ strongly from those defined in the IEC/G173 standards due to widely different atmospheric conditions and collector tilt angles. Therefore, additional subordinate standard spectra for other atmospheric conditions and tilt angles are of interest for a rough comparison of product performance under representative field conditions, in addition to using the main standard spectrum for product certification under standard test conditions. This simplifies the product selection for solar power systems when a fully-detailed performance analysis is not feasible (e.g. small installations). Also, the effort for a detailed yield analyses can be reduced by decreasing the number of initial product options. After appropriate testing, this contribution suggests a number of additional spectra related to eight sets of atmospheric conditions and tilt angles that are currently considered within ASTM and ISO working groups. The additional spectra, called subordinate standard spectra, are motivated by significant spectral mismatches compared to the IEC/G173 spectra (up to 6.5%, for PV at 37 degrees tilt and 10-15% for CPV). These mismatches correspond to potential accuracy improvements for a quick estimation of the average efficiency by applying the appropriate subordinate standard spectrum instead of the IEC/G173 spectra. The applicability of these spectra for PV performance analyses is confirmed at five test sites, for which subordinate spectra could be intuitively selected based on the average atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) and precipitable water vapor at those locations. The development of subordinate standard spectra for DNI and concentrating solar power (CSP) and concentrating PV (CPV) is also considered. However, it is found that many more sets of atmospheric conditions would be required to allow the intuitive selection of DNI spectra for the five test sites, due in particular to the stronger effect of AOD on DNI compared to GTI. In conclusion, the matrix of subordinate GTI spectra described in this paper are recommended to appear as an option in the annex of future standards, in addition to the obligatory use of the main spectrum from the ASTM G173 and IEC 60904 standards.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nuclear criticality safety standard for a fuel reprocessing plant assuming burnup credit published by the atomic energy society of Japan - 14591

In this paper an outline of the standard published in April 2015 by the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) is presented. The standard gives basis of nuclear safety management of a spent fuel reprocessing plant that assumed burnup credit in nuclear criticality safety evaluation. Ten years ago the AESJ published Basic Items of Criticality Safety Control: 2004, AESJ-SC-F004:2004, which prescribed basic ideas, requirements and methods on nuclear criticality safety controls of facilities handling with nuclear fuel materials in general for preventing a nuclear criticality accident. However, it did not include any specific procedures for adopting burnup credit. Therefore, a new standard was envisaged as the first Standard for fuel reprocessing plants, which clarified the specific procedures to apply burnup credit to designers, operators, maintenance persons and administrators. The Standard, Procedures for Applying Burnup Credit to Criticality Safety Control of a Reprocessing Facility: 2014, AESJ-SC-F025: 2014, was developed by the AESJ after vital discussions of the Working Group on Nuclear Criticality Safety Control, which were followed by critical reviews of the Special Committee on Nuclear Fuel Cycle and those of the Standard Committee, where both committees were established under the AESJ. The followings are some features of the standard: 1. In many countries, application of burnup credit has been considered especially in transportation and storage of spent fuel. The standard applies to a reprocessing plant, especially to the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant in Japan. The present edition of the Standard assumes the first phase of burnup credit, i.e., burnup credit considering reduction in {sup 235}U, production of {sup 239}Pu and changes in other actinides, but not considering neutron absorption effect of fission products. 2. This standard covers nuclear criticality safety management including safety design and safety control stages. It prescribes each procedure of nuclear safety management with emphasis on its necessity rather in detail. Attached to the standard are seven appendices, which give reference to it, and explanations, which provide supplemental information to the readers. Future needs of AESJ standards in the field of nuclear criticality safety will be discussed in the presentation. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2016

The Advancement of Cool Roof Standards in China from 2010 to 2015

Since the initiation of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center-Building Energy Efficiency (CERC-BEE) cool roof research collaboration between the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group and Chinese institutions in 2010, new cool surface credits (insulation trade- offs) have been adopted in Chinese building energy efficiency standards, industry standards, and green building standards. JGJ 75-2012: Design Standard for Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings in Hot Summer and Warm Winter Zone became the first national level standard to provide cool surface credits. GB/T 50378-2014: Assessment Standard for Green Building is the first national level green building standard that offers points for heat island mitigation. JGJ/T 359-2015: Technical Specification for Application of Architectural Reflective Thermal Insulation Coating is the first industry standard that offers cool coating credits for both public and residential buildings in all hot-summer climates (Hot Summer/Cold Winter, Hot Summer/Warm Winter). As of December 2015, eight provinces or municipalities in hot-summer regions have credited cool surfaces credits in their residential and/or public building design standards; five other provinces or municipalities in hot-summer regions recommend, but do not credit, the use of cool surfaces in their building design standards. Cool surfaces could be further advanced in China by including cool roof credits for residential and public building energy efficiency standards in all hot-summer regions; developing a standardized process for natural exposure and aged-property rating of cool roofing products; and adapting the U.S.-developed laboratory aging process for roofing materials to replicate solar reflectance changes induced by natural exposure in China.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

The role of Health Impact Assessment in the setting of air quality standards: An Australian perspective

The approaches used for setting or reviewing air quality standards vary from country to country. The purpose of this research was to consider the potential to improve decision-making through integration of HIA into the processes to review and set air quality standards used in Australia. To assess the value of HIA in this policy process, its strengths and weaknesses were evaluated aligned with review of international processes for setting air quality standards. Air quality standard setting programmes elsewhere have either used HIA or have amalgamated and incorporated factors normally found within HIA frameworks. They clearly demonstrate the value of a formalised HIA process for setting air quality standards in Australia. The following elements should be taken into consideration when using HIA in standard setting. (a) The adequacy of a mainly technical approach in current standard setting procedures to consider social determinants of health. (b) The importance of risk assessment criteria and information within the HIA process. The assessment of risk should consider equity, the distribution of variations in air quality in different locations and the potential impacts on health. (c) The uncertainties in extrapolating evidence from one population to another or to subpopulations, especially the more vulnerable, due to differing environmental factors and population variables. (d) The significance of communication with all potential stakeholders on issues associated with the management of air quality. In Australia there is also an opportunity for HIA to be used in conjunction with the NEPM to develop local air quality standard measures. The outcomes of this research indicated that the use of HIA for air quality standard setting at the national and local levels would prove advantageous. -- Highlights: • Health Impact Assessment framework has been applied to a policy development process. • HIA process was evaluated for application in air quality standard setting. • Advantages of HIA in the air quality standard setting process are demonstrated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Perspective on the Interaction Between the NCSD and ANSI/ANS-8 Standards

The intent of this paper is to illuminate the reasons behind the culture of standards involvement by the criticality safety community in the NCSD, and specifically highlight those NCSD activities that build/support this culture. Many NCSD members are currently active in ANSI/ANS-8 and other standards and have been for the last half century. This paper was inspired by a request from ANS’s Professional Divisions Committee concerning how the professional divisions could “increase support to Standards development as Subject Matter Experts”. The healthy level of involvement (i.e., culture) by the NCSD membership in standards was noted. A history of the ANSI/ANS-8 series standards is provided, with roots going back to 1955. The need became apparent during a cluster of nuclear criticality accidents that occurred between 1958-1962. The first NCS related standard was the American Standard N6.1-1964, the parent of ANSI/ANS-8.1, which was prepared in 1958 and adopted in 1964. Thus, the involvement in standards by the NCS community goes back more than 50 years. The NCSD continues to help foster a culture of standards use and development. However, the support provided by the NCSD is frequently not recognized, and standards activities are often viewed as separate from the NCSD. This paper highlights the interaction between the NCSD and the ANSI/ANS-8 standards activities as well as the benefit of this support.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Perspective on the Interaction Between the NCSD and ANSI/ANS-8 Standards [Slides]

The intent of this paper is to illuminate the reasons behind the culture of standards involvement by the criticality safety community in the NCSD, and specifically highlight those NCSD activities that build/support this culture. Many NCSD members are currently active in ANSI/ANS-8 and other standards and have been for the last half century. This paper was inspired by a request from ANS’s Professional Divisions Committee concerning how the professional divisions could “increase support to Standards development as Subject Matter Experts”. The healthy level of involvement (i.e., culture) by the NCSD membership in standards was noted. A history of the ANSI/ANS-8 series standards is provided, with roots going back to 1955. The need became apparent during a cluster of nuclear criticality accidents that occurred between 1958-1962. The first NCS related standard was the American Standard N6.1-1964, the parent of ANSI/ANS-8.1, which was prepared in 1958 and adopted in 1964. Thus, the involvement in standards by the NCS community goes back more than 50 years. The NCSD continues to help foster a culture of standards use and development. However, the support provided by the NCSD is frequently not recognized, and standards activities are often viewed as separate from the NCSD. This paper highlights the interaction between the NCSD and the ANSI/ANS-8 standards activities as well as the benefit of this support.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

An Evaluation of Standardized Canisters in the Waste Management System - 16317

Development of a standardized canister system represents an opportunity to develop an integrated approach to addressing storage, transportation, and disposal issues in the waste management system. However, regardless of timing and method, deployment of such a system would have the potential to cause significant system-wide impacts. This evaluation expands upon previous standardized-canister system evaluations and compares continued loading of dual-purpose canisters (i.e., the status quo) with loading of standardized canister systems in the near term, that is, before repository requirements are known and/or before operating reactors shut down. This evaluation quantitatively compares order-of-magnitude costs and logistics for different standardization scenarios with those of status quo scenarios, provides insight into quantifiable impacts of loading standardized canister systems in the near term, tests system-level analysis tools and associated input, and identifies scenarios for further analysis. This is a technical paper that does not take into account the contractual limitations under the Standard Contract (10 CFR Part 961). As work on assessing standardized canister system scenarios has progressed, new data for at-reactor and interim storage facility (ISF) operations have been collected and/or generated to provide more realism at the system level, and past scenarios were re-evaluated with this new information. In addition, new scenarios were developed and analyzed that focused on (1) bare fuel transported from reactors to an ISF in re-usable bare fuel casks and deferring deployment of a standardized canister system to the ISF, (2) alternative acceptance strategies based on conclusions from previous systems architecture studies, and (3) the impacts of having to accommodate spent fuel in differently sized canisters for different potential repository geologies. Results of this evaluation indicate that shifting the loading of standardized canisters from the reactor to the ISF does not result in a significant change in total system cost. Results also show that some alternative acceptance strategies could reduce the number of years that spent nuclear fuel (SNF) stays on-site at reactors for cases involving standardized canisters (consistent with previous results that looked at dual-purpose canisters). Finally, incorporating the new at-reactor loading data of small standardized canisters shows a significant system-wide cost reduction when compared to previous estimates of at-reactor loading of small canisters. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2017

A perspective on the interaction between the NCSD and ANSI/ANS-8 standards

The intent of this paper is to illuminate the reasons behind the culture of standards involvement by the criticality safety community in the NCSD (Nuclear Criticality Safety Division), and specifically highlight those NCSD activities that build/support this culture. Many NCSD members are currently active in ANSI/ANS-8 and other standards and have been for the last half century. This paper was inspired by a request from ANS's Professional Divisions Committee concerning how the professional divisions could 'increase support to Standards development as Subject Matter Experts'. The healthy level of involvement (i.e., culture) by the NCSD membership in standards was noted. A history of the ANSI/ANS-8 series standards is provided, with roots going back to 1955. The need became apparent during a cluster of nuclear criticality accidents that occurred between 1958-1962. The first NCS related standard was the American Standard N6.1-1964, the parent of ANSI/ANS-8.1, which was prepared in 1958 and adopted in 1964. Thus, the involvement in standards by the NCS community goes back more than 50 years. The NCSD continues to help foster a culture of standards use and development. However, the support provided by the NCSD is frequently not recognized, and standards activities are often viewed as separate from the NCSD. This paper highlights the interaction between the NCSD and the ANSI/ANS-8 standards activities as well as the benefit of this support. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Evaluation of the 235 U resonance parameters to fit the standard recommended values

A great deal of effort has been dedicated to the revision of the standard values in connection with the neutron interaction for some actinides. While standard data compilation are available for decades nuclear data evaluations included in existing nuclear data libraries (ENDF, JEFF, JENDL, etc.) do not follow the standard recommended values. Indeed, the majority of evaluations for major actinides do not conform to the standards whatsoever. In particular, for the n + 235 U interaction the only value in agreement with the standard is the thermal fission cross section. We performed a resonance re-evaluation of the n + 235 U interaction in order to address the issues regarding standard values in the energy range from 10-5 eV to 2250 eV. Recently, 235 U fission cross-section measurements have been performed at the CERN Neutron Time-o-Flight facility (TOF), known as n_TOF, in the energy range from 0.7 eV to 10 keV. The data were normalized according to the recommended standard of the fission integral in the energy range 7.8 eV to 11 eV. As a result, the n_TOF averaged fission cross sections above 100 eV are in good agreement with the standard recommended values. The n_TOF data were included in the 235 U resonance analysis that was performed with the code SAMMY. In addition to the average standard values related to the fission cross section, standard thermal values for fission, capture, and elastic cross sections were also included in the evaluation. Our paper presents the procedure used for re-evaluating the 235 U resonance parameters including the recommended standard values as well as new cross section measurements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

National Cost-effectiveness of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program supports the upgrade and implementation of building energy codes and standards, which set minimum requirements for energy-efficient design and construction for new and renovated buildings, and impact energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for the life of buildings. Continuous improvement of building energy efficiency is achieved by periodically updating model energy codes for commercial and residential buildings. Through consensus-based code development processes, DOE recommends revisions and amendments, supporting technologically feasible and economically justified energy efficiency measures. Ensuring that model code changes impacting the cost of building construction, maintenance, and energy services are cost-effective also encourages their adoption and implementation at the state and local levels. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) prepared this analysis to support DOE in evaluating the energy and economic impacts associated with updated codes in commercial buildings. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the cost-effectiveness of the 2013 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 2013). Standard 90.1 is developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard Standing Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1. It is the model energy standard for commercial and multifamily residential buildings over three floors (42 USC 6833). PNNL analyzed the cost-effectiveness of changes in Standard 90.1 from 90.1-2010 to 90.1-2013, as applied in commercial buildings across the United States. During the development of new editions of Standard 90.1, the cost-effectiveness of individual changes (addenda) is often calculated to support the deliberations of ASHRAE Standard Standing Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1. The ASHRAE process, however, does not include analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the entire package of addenda from one edition of the standard to the next, which is of particular interest to adopting State and local governments. Providing States with an analysis of costeffectiveness may encourage more rapid adoption of newer editions of energy codes based on Standard 90.1. This information may also inform the development of future editions of Standard 90.1.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1977

Use of human engineering standards in design

Results are presented for a research study intended to assess the impact of present human engineering standards on product design. The approach consisted of three basic steps: a comparison of two display panels to determine if, in fact, products designed to the same standards are truly standardized; a review of two existing standards to determine how well their information can be used to solve design problems; and a survey of human factors specialists to assess their opinions about standards. It is shown that standards have less than the desired influence on product design. This is evidenced by a lack of standardization between hardware designed under common standards, by deficiencies within the standards that detract from their usefulness and encourage users to ignore them, and by the respondents of the survey who consider standards less valuable than other reference sources for design implementation. Recommendations aimed at enhancing the use of standards are set forth.

Rogers, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Development of NASA Technical Standards Program Relative to Enhancing Engineering Capabilities

The enhancement of engineering capabilities is an important aspect of any organization; especially those engaged in aerospace development activities. Technical Standards are one of the key elements of this endeavor. The NASA Technical Standards Program was formed in 1997 in response to the NASA Administrator s directive to develop an Agencywide Technical Standards Program. The Program s principal objective involved the converting Center-unique technical standards into Agency wide standards and the adoption/endorsement of non-Government technical standards in lieu of government standards. In the process of these actions, the potential for further enhancement of the Agency s engineering capabilities was noted relative to value of being able to access Agencywide the necessary full-text technical standards, standards update notifications, and integration of lessons learned with technical standards, all available to the user from one Website. This was accomplished and is now being enhanced based on feedbacks from the Agency's engineering staff and supporting contractors. This paper addresses the development experiences with the NASA Technical Standards Program and the enhancement of the Agency's engineering capabilities provided by the Program s products. Metrics are provided on significant aspects of the Program.

Gill, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Test Standard Developed for Determining the Slow Crack Growth of Advanced Ceramics at Ambient Temperature

The service life of structural ceramic components is often limited by the process of slow crack growth. Therefore, it is important to develop an appropriate testing methodology for accurately determining the slow crack growth design parameters necessary for component life prediction. In addition, an appropriate test methodology can be used to determine the influences of component processing variables and composition on the slow crack growth and strength behavior of newly developed materials, thus allowing the component process to be tailored and optimized to specific needs. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, work to develop a standard test method to determine the slow crack growth parameters of advanced ceramics was initiated by the authors in early 1994 in the C 28 (Advanced Ceramics) committee of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). After about 2 years of required balloting, the draft written by the authors was approved and established as a new ASTM test standard: ASTM C 1368-97, Standard Test Method for Determination of Slow Crack Growth Parameters of Advanced Ceramics by Constant Stress-Rate Flexural Testing at Ambient Temperature. Briefly, the test method uses constant stress-rate testing to determine strengths as a function of stress rate at ambient temperature. Strengths are measured in a routine manner at four or more stress rates by applying constant displacement or loading rates. The slow crack growth parameters required for design are then estimated from a relationship between strength and stress rate. This new standard will be published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 15.01, in 1998. Currently, a companion draft ASTM standard for determination of the slow crack growth parameters of advanced ceramics at elevated temperatures is being prepared by the authors and will be presented to the committee by the middle of 1998. Consequently, Lewis will maintain an active leadership role in advanced ceramics standardization within ASTM. In addition, the authors have been and are involved with several international standardization organizations including the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The associated standardization activities involve fracture toughness, strength, elastic modulus, and the machining of advanced ceramics.

Choi, Sung R.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Application of IRIG 106 Digital Data Recorder Standards for Flight Test

During flight tests, data is acquired from different sources and in different formats. Sensor data, aircraft avionics bus data, time, voice and video are essential for analysis of these flight tests. IRIG 106 standards exist for recording and transferring these data types. However, to enhance interoperability of flight test data between (multinational) test teams, a standard was needed to encapsulate all these data types. For this purpose the Telemetry Group of the Range Commanders Council (RCC) first published in 2004 the IRIG 106 Chapter 10 Standard, “Solid-State On-Board Recorder Standard”. This standard is evolving up to present. This AGARDograph gives an introduction to the standard, explains how the standard is positioned among other relevant standards, and describes the equipment and their application in flight tests with some examples. The topics covered include IRIG 106 Chapter 10 compatible recording of (multiple) data streams, synchronization of data, data recorders, data retrieval, data processing, and examples of flight test programs. Further development of the standard, originally published for on-board recorders, is described for extending the requirements for ground-based data recorders. The last chapter addresses a number of issues related to the application of the Chapter 10 standard with references to information and possible solutions. This document shows how data acquisition and data processing in accordance to IRIG 106 Chapter 10 standard can be applied in NATO flight tests and will thereby contribute to collaboration and cost efficiency.

flight test instrumentation↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Holistic and Pragmatic Standards Processes Enable Interdisciplinary Science

Open, interdisciplinary science inevitably relies heavily on standards. Standards are those often unseen agreements that we take for granted when systems and processes are working fine. Yet standards work is perpetual, laborious, and sometimes contentious, especially for standards to work across diverse disciplines. Standards development, maintenance, and implementation is a complex, ongoing socio-technical process. NASA has developed a progressively open science policy and strategy that calls for the establishment of a data standards process reaching across the five diverse divisions of the Science Mission Directorate. This is a delicate exercise. We, therefore, seek to apply a holistic yet pragmatic approach to developing and maintaining a standards process. We adopt an ecological philosophy that focuses on the interactions within the data ecosystem and how standards facilitate those interactions. We couple high-level analysis with on the ground experimentation. We began by 1) mapping information ecosystem components (e.g. data centers, missions, services, protocols, users), 2)establishing how the components interact (e.g. sharing (meta)data, funding, personnel exchange), and 3) modelling system dynamics (e.g. creation of products from multiple data centers, redundant processes, shared services). The goal is to apply understanding of the ecosystem to real world applications (e.g. planning a new mission, implementing new policy requirements, improving process efficiency, etc.). We have also conducted studies of historical standardization efforts, documenting lessons learned and cautionary tales. We then contrast this more abstract work with real examples. We reviewed and assessed multiple existing standards development processes both within and external to NASA. We now work to implement an initial test process which can be further optimized. We seek to define a consistent approach for assigning persistent identifiers for research objects, especially for the purposes of citation. The experience from this relatively ‘simple’ test case adds a pragmatic perspective on how researchers and engineers actually work. This presentation will review the details of this methodology, our initial findings, and how they might apply to other interdisciplinary standardization efforts.

Mark A Parsons↗
DOE OSTI2015

WE-G-BRD-07: Automated MR Image Standardization and Auto-Contouring Strategy for MRI-Based Adaptive Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer

Purpose: MRI-based adaptive brachytherapy (ABT) is an emerging treatment modality for patients with gynecological tumors. However, MR image intensity non-uniformities (IINU) can vary from fraction to fraction, complicating image interpretation and auto-contouring accuracy. We demonstrate here an automated MR image standardization and auto-contouring strategy for MRI-based ABT of cervix cancer. Methods: MR image standardization consisted of: 1) IINU correction using the MNI N3 algorithm, 2) noise filtering using anisotropic diffusion, and 3) signal intensity normalization using the volumetric median. This post-processing chain was implemented as a series of custom Matlab and Java extensions in MIM (v6.4.5, MIM Software) and was applied to 3D T2 SPACE images of six patients undergoing MRI-based ABT at 3T. Coefficients of variation (CV=σ/µ) were calculated for both original and standardized images and compared using Mann-Whitney tests. Patient-specific cumulative MR atlases of bladder, rectum, and sigmoid contours were constructed throughout ABT, using original and standardized MR images from all previous ABT fractions. Auto-contouring was performed in MIM two ways: 1) best-match of one atlas image to the daily MR image, 2) multi-match of all previous fraction atlas images to the daily MR image. Dice’s Similarity Coefficients (DSCs) were calculated for auto-generated contours relative to reference contours for both original and standardized MR images and compared using Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Significant improvements in CV were detected following MR image standardization (p=0.0043), demonstrating an improvement in MR image uniformity. DSCs consistently increased for auto-contoured bladder, rectum, and sigmoid following MR image standardization, with the highest DSCs detected when the combination of MR image standardization and multi-match cumulative atlas-based auto-contouring was utilized. Conclusion: MR image standardization significantly improves MR image uniformity. The combination of MR image standardization and multi-match cumulative atlas-based auto-contouring produced the highest DSCs and is a promising strategy for MRI-based ABT for cervix cancer.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗