Operational and Development Cost Modeling of NASA's Earth Observing System
Data Information System (EOSDIS)

Mark J. Simons
mark.simons@gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC

Abstract:
Cost is a driving factor and major concern for any human endeavor.  In an
effort to understand the cost of NASA's Earth Observing System Data
Information System (EOSDIS), project management has conducted numerous
studies over the years.  The proposed paper will summarize the results of
efforts to quantify operational and development EOSDIS costs.  One approach
described uses a COTS tool implementation to perform cost modeling and
offers the unique advantage of requirements tracing through both flinctional
and descriptive aspects of a system model.  This and other approaches
mentioned in the paper use combinations of parametric and performance
modeling to measure system costs relating to distribution, staffing, data
production, and system architecture.  These efforts in cost modeling
provide additional insight and justify the benefits of the EOSDIS approach.