NASA SBIR 2019-II Solicitation

Proposal Summary


PROPOSAL NUMBER:
 19-2- S5.06-3255
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER:
 80NSSC19C0407
SUBTOPIC TITLE:
 Space Weather R2O/O2R Technology Development
PROPOSAL TITLE:
 Geoelectric Field Forecasting with Machine Learning: A Data-Driven, Ensemble-Based Capability for Hazard Mitigation
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Quantitative Scientific Solutions, LLC
4601 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 1200
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 468-1277

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Dr. Jesse Woodroffe
jesse.woodroffe@qs-2.com
4601 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 1200
Arlington, VA 22203 - 1559
(612) 251-4800

BUSINESS OFFICIAL (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
David Guarrera
david.guarrera@qs-2.com
4601 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 1200
Arlington, VA 22203 - 1559
(516) 669-2166

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :
Begin: 3
End: 6
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)

The proposed effort is focused on developing a data-driven forecast of the physical drivers of geomagnetically-induced currents. Building on our successful demonstration of geomagnetic activity forecasts of 30 minutes or more using a classification-based approach to machine learning, we are now seeking developing a diversified framework of complementary forecasting models based on classification, regression, deep learning, and reduced-complexity physics. In addition to expanding the scope of modeling paradigms, we are also expanding the scope of our data used by our models to include measurements from solar wind monitoring spacecraft and are further enhancing the value of this new data by using realistic models of uncertainty for key solar wind parameters. Using these uncertainty models, we will develop ensemble forecasts from each of our models and will use these ensembles to provide quantified uncertainties for each forecast. Finally, we will develop a metaforecasting algorithm that intelligently combines the forecasts from individual model forecasts using the tools of Ensemble Learning. This work purposefully embraces the uncertainty and variability that is inherent within both our data sources and our models. Discoveries in the fields of data science and machine learning have revealed that when uncertainty is acknowledged and properly leveraged, forecasts from multiple independent models can be combined into a single forecast with far fewer weaknesses than that of any of its constituent forecasts. By predicting an outcome using multiple diverse base models and combining the results from this ensemble of models, the generalization error of the prediction can be significantly reduced, and its accuracy can be greatly improved, enabling us to achieve unprecedented accuracy with sufficiently long lead times to be of use to operators and decision makers.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

Data processing tool to enable real-time geoelectric field/GIC calculation and forecasting

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

Operational monitoring of space weather impacts on critical infrastructure and early warning of potentially hazardous activity

Duration: 24

Form Generated on 05/04/2020 06:27:25