Lowell Digisonde International, LLC has received a Phase I award from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, to design a cubesat based system for topside ionospheric sounding capable of direct measurements of the ionospheric electron density profiles with advanced Topside Ionospheric Sounders (TIS) on nanosatellites at ~800 km altitude. Proposal summary: https://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/20/sbir/phase1/SBIR-20-1-S5.06-4875.html

As of June 2020 LDI has delivered three Digisonde 4D (DPS4D) systems to customers in the USA despite COVID 19. As everyone in the industry is aware, COVID 19 related restrictions have caused slowdown in electronics manufacture, part availability, and lead time, affecting production schedules and work efficiency. Restrictions to workplace access have complicated work environments world wide. Despite these COVID19 related challenges, LDI was able to fulfill its obligations on time. In addition, the first totally remote DPS4D system performance evaluation and personnel training was successfully conducted in May. With customer personnel on-site and LDI personnel remote, a smooth installation was conducted; the system was set up, antenna arrays configured, system programs and schedules designed and implemented, performance evaluated, training conducted, and system checked out.

LDI recently delivered five Digisonde® 4D (DPS4D) Systems to customers in the USA and abroad. As with all DPS4D systems, each system is assembled, calibrated & tested by our engineers at LDI manufacturing and testing facilities located in Lowell, Massachusetts. With the addition of these systems LDI has expanded the Digisonde® sounder network for the Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory (GIRO). LDI is contracted to deliver additional DPS4D systems in 2020.

20 MAY, 4th REAL-TIME IRI TASK FORCE MEETING
21- 23 MAY, 15th INTERNATIONAL GIRO FORUM

In May 2019, it will be 5 years since our last International GIRO Forum was held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML). The Lowell GIRO Data Center (LGDC) manages the collection and distribution of ionospheric data that were obtained with ionosondes around the globe by the consortium members. The data bank at LGDC (http://giro.uml.edu) now contains ionosonde measurements and derived data products from 89 Digisonde stations, and from 29 other ionosonde stations that are able to provide scaled ionogram data. Currently 78 observatories have agreed to upload measurements to GIRO in real-time. Many new data products have been developed in the last 5 years.

Lowell Digisonde International (LDI) has received a Phase II award from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Administration to develop and validate the Lowell Oblique Ionogram Autoscaler (LOIA), an intelligent software system capable of identifying oblique echo traces in images of the oblique-incidence (OI) sounding of the ionosphere. The LOIA technology extracts the OI traces from the ionogram image using an expanded ARTIST algorithm, synthesizes the first-guess OI model traces, transforms the model traces until they agree with the observed ones, and produces thus identified and interpreted OI ionogram traces for their subsequent use in the specification of the ionospheric plasma distribution. The first-guess synthesis algorithm uses a composite-quasi-parabolic representation of the measured vertical profile at the receiver site to estimate the propagation paths from the transmitter to the receiver assuming a spherically stratified ionosphere and neglecting the magnetic field. The LOIA output includes detected and interpreted traces and their important properties, including the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) for different modes of signal propagation. The data management infrastructure at the Lowell Giro Data Center (LGDC, http://giro.uml.edu/) will support the evaluation of the LOIA quality metrics, including interactive ionogram analysis software for the manual OI ionogram interpretation.

Anticipated Benefits: Vertical- and oblique-incidence ionogram measurements provide the most accurate and reliable specification of the bottomside ionosphere dynamics in near-real-time and fine detail. Digisonde® DPS4D networks exist in Europe (e.g., see NetTIDE project), South Africa, Korea, and China that operate synchronously. With the ability to automatically extract and identify the OI traces, the ionospheric weather monitoring by means of the oblique sounding becomes an operational reality. Assimilation of these data into an ionospheric model like IRTAM (http://giro.uml.edu/IRTAM/) or GAIM will enhance the accurate real-time representation of the global ionospheric electron density distribution.

Prof. Arne Skjeltorp of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences presented the medal on behalf of the International Space Weather and Climate Committee during the European Space Weather Week in Liège, Belgium on 20 November 2014.

Candidates for the Kristian Birkeland Medal must have demonstrated a unique ability to combine basic and applied research to obtain useful products, preferentially being used outside the research community, or across disciplines in research. The work must have led to a better physical comprehension of solar or terrestrial phenomena related to space weather, to a drastic improvement of the modeling, or to a new generation of instruments for space weather observations. The citation for Bodo Reinisch reads “For outstanding scientific results in the field of space weather”.

The Birkeland Medal award honors his research and development work during his long years at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and since 2010 at Lowell Digisonde International, resulting in 300 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals.

Anticipated Benefits. Unambiguous measurement of the topside electron density profiles will provide unique data for the specification of the topside electron density distribution, which is otherwise only provided by incoherent scatter radars at a few points and at limited times. Assimilation of these data into an ionospheric model like IRI RTAM or GAIM will for the first time provide an accurate real-time assimilative model for the ionospheric electron density specification up to the spacecraft altitude (~1000 km). A fleet of topside satellites with DPTIS can provide near real-time high resolution maps of foF2 and hmF2 over the oceans and land, complementing the ground-based Digisonde GIRO observations, as well as global near real time specifications of the topside electron density profiles which are affecting all transionospheric radio signals, including GPS.

Ionospheric research missions in the F layer, both above or below the F2 peak, for detailed studies of equatorial spread F and scintillations, or auroral and polar cap irregularity structures can easily be carried out with DPITS because of its flexible programmability.

Real-Time-IRI Task Force Meeting, May 19, 2014 The COSPAR/URSI Inter-Union IRI Working Group invites you to a one-day "Task Force Meeting on the Real-Time-IRI" in Lowell on 19 May 2014.

XIV International GIRO Forum IGF2014, May 20-23, 2014 UML/LDI invites you to the International GIRO Forum IGF2014 in Lowell, MA during the period May 20-23, 2014.

The Forum will discuss the latest system news of the Global Ionosphere Radio Observatory (GIRO) and the Lowell GIRO Data Center (LGDC), review data dissemination and archiving, and discuss new measurement capabilities and applications. The IGF2014 will focus on oblique ionogram observations, measuring traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), and the Ionosphere Real-Time Assimilative Model (IRTAM). The new Vary-Chap topside electron density profile model will be introduced, which replaces the -Chapman profile in ARTIST-5.

Lowell Digisonde International, LLC has received a Phase II award from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Administration, for the development of a Small Satellite-based System for Active and Passive Sounding of the Ionosphere, Direct Current (DC) through High Frequency (HF) for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Under the award, Lowell Digisonde International will build the breadboard functional proof unit of a new space borne instrument "DPTIS" (Double-Probe & Topside Ionosphere Sounder) that simultaneously measures in situ electric fields and the vertical electron density profiles from the spacecraft altitude to the F2 layer peak. The instrument is designed for a small satellite and integrates an RF Topside-Ionosphere-Sounder (TIS) with Double-Probe (DP) electric field sensors. Availability of six booms, configured into three orthogonal dipoles and 3 isolated double probes, is assumed.

Anticipated Benefits. Unambiguous measurement of the topside electron density profiles will provide unique data for the specification of the topside electron density distribution, which is otherwise only provided by incoherent scatter radars at a few points and at limited times. Assimilation of these data into an ionospheric model like IRI RTAM or GAIM will for the first time provide an accurate real-time assimilative model for the ionospheric electron density specification up to the spacecraft altitude (~1000 km). A fleet of topside satellites with DPTIS can provide near real-time high resolution maps of foF2 and hmF2 over the oceans and land, complementing the ground-based Digisonde GIRO observations, as well as global near real time specifications of the topside electron density profiles which are affecting all transionospheric radio signals, including GPS.

Ionospheric research missions in the F layer, both above or below the F2 peak, for detailed studies of equatorial spread F and scintillations, or auroral and polar cap irregularity structures can easily be carried out with DPITS because of its flexible programmability.

Lowell Digisonde International, LLC has received a Phase I award from the AF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, to develop a tool capable of simulating 3D HF propagation through a flexible ionospheric environment. Raytracing will be done through the 3D IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) with superimposed TID modulations. The calculated angles-of-arrival and Doppler shifts will be used to reconstruct the TIDs of the simulated TIDs.

1. IAGA 2013 12th Scientific Assembly August 26-27, 2013 | Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Joint Aeronomy/History Session: History of Ionosonde Research For many decades the ionosonde has been the work horse of ionospheric research. From the discovery of the ionospheric layers and their diurnal and seasonal variations to ionospheric dynamics and spread F, ionosondes have provided the basic measurements. Over time the ionosonde itself underwent a steady development from a relatively simple analog instrument to a highly sophisticated digital radar system, and the initial ground-based observations extended to satellite borne topside observations. Papers on significant ionospheric research with ionosondes from ground and satellites and on the development of ionospheric sounders are solicited.

• Convener, Bodo Reinisch
• Co-convener, Mangalathayil Ali Abdu
• Co-convener, Gordon James
• For more info visit: www.geociencias.unam.mx

2. IRI Workshop 2013 June 24-28, 2013 | University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Local Organizer: Dr. A. Krankowski - email

3. German National URSI Meeting September 23-25, 2013 | Miltenberg, Germany

Special Session: Honoring Karl Rawer for his 100th Birthday Convener: Matthias Foerster

Lowell Digisonde International, LLC has received a Phase I award from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Administration, to develop a Small Satellite-based System for Active and Passive Sounding of the Ionosphere, Direct Current (DC) through High Frequency (HF), for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

This new instrument design for a small satellite, incorporates the specifications for an RF Topside Ionospheric Sounder (TIS), with double probe electric field sensors. Six 7.5-m booms, configured into three orthogonal 15-m tip-to-tip dipoles and 3 orthogonal double probes, are assumed. The proposed "DPTIS" instrument can be flown within or above the ionosphere. The TIS design scans frequencies from 1.0 - 30 MHz and specifies the wave polarization (O/X) in the ionograms and the echo angle-of-arrival for ionospheric skymaps. The TIS design uses LDI/UML heritage from the IMAGER/RPI instrument and ground-based Digisondes^® , and provides high programming flexibility to accommodate diverse spacecraft orbits. Ionogram/radio-skymap cadences of 10 seconds will provide high spatial resolution. Autoscaling software can derive real-time electron density profiles from the spacecraft. The double probe measurements use isolated spheres mounted at the end of the 6 antenna booms. The double probe will measure the field components from DC to 5 KHz. Outside the ionogram/skymap time windows the double probe voltages are continuously sampled at nominally 5 kS/s. The double probe design and processing is based on instrumentation that UNH developed and delivered for the MMS and other missions.

Benefits: The DPTIS design is sufficiently flexible to fly on research missions in the F layer, both above or below the F2 peak for detailed studies of equatorial spread F and scintillations, or on a fleet of topside surveying missions for the mapping of the global ionosphere. Accurate near real-time topside electron density profiles can be ingested into the Global Assimilative Ionospheric Measurements (GAIM) model and will constrain the model in terms of foF2, hmF2, and accurate topside profiles to ~1,000 km altitude in all regions including those currently inaccessible with ground-based observations.

Lowell Digisonde International, LLC participated in the Proposers' Day for the HFGeo Program on July 13, 2012 hosted by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), in anticipation of the release of a new solicitation for the development of ionospheric characterization technology in support of the High Frequency Geolocation and characterization (HFGeo) program. The event was held in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The purpose of the Proposers’ Day was to provide information on the HFGeo program and its ionosphere characterization goals, to address questions from potential proposers, and to provide a forum for potential proposers to present their capabilities and find potential team partners.

Consul General Friedrich Löhr decorated Professor Bodo W. Reinisch with the “Officer's Cross of the Federal Order of Merit” on Thursday, June 28, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. In his speech, Mr. Löhr honored Professor Reinisch in founding and presiding over the German International School Boston during the last two decades, and recognized his accomplishments in international cooperative research. For more photos and information please visit the German Missions Website.

The Digisonde® sounder network for the Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory has again been expanded with the recent delivery of Digisonde® 4D systems by LDI. In 2011, LDI has delivered eleven Digisonde® 4D systems to clients in the U.S, Spain, Brazil, and Germany. LDI reports that seven additional systems are scheduled for delivery in 2012, to customers in the U.S., Brazil and Russia.

Lowell Digisonde International, (LDI) is a participant in a new Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) project as the only non-European organization. This three and a half year project runs from November 1, 2011 to April 30, 2015.

Through ESPAS, the project participants aim to provide the e-Infrastructure necessary to support access to observations, modeling and prediction of the Near-Earth Space environment.

Additional information may be found: http://cordis.europa.eu

"It was like winning the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the field of radio science!"

That was how Prof. Emeritus Bodo Reinisch of the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department of the University of Massachusetts Lowell described the news that the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) has chosen him to receive the prestigious Appleton Prize for "outstanding contributions to studies in ionospheric physics."

The award was presented during the opening ceremony of the tri-annual URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium on August 14, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Appleton Prize was first given out in 1969 by the Council of the Royal Society of London to commemorate Sir Edward Appleton, who served as president of URSI from 1934 to 1952. Once every three years, URSI selects a recipient and presents the award at the General Assembly.

Reinisch, who is the former director of UMass Lowell's Center for Atmospheric Research , was cited for "revolutionizing radio sounding from ground and space with development of the Digisonde and the IMAGE/RPI satellite instrument, [which are] both essential data providers for space-weather monitoring and ionospheric modeling."

"The award made me very happy," he says. "It is a very nice recognition of the excellent research done at UMASS Lowell's Center for Atmospheric Research."

A Legacy of Achievements
In 2008, Reinisch received an award from NASA for his work on the Radio Plasma Imager (RPI), which was conceived and built at the Center. The instrument, designed to characterize plasma in Earth's inner magnetosphere, was flown aboard the space agency's highly successful IMAGE spacecraft, which operated from 2000 to 2005.

Reinisch, who was the RPI's principal investigator, and his team from NASA's Goddard and Marshall Space Flight Centers, Rice University and Stanford University were given a NASA Group Achievement Award for "pioneering advanced space-based radio sounding and scientific advances achieved through its innovative application to geospace science."

The RPI collected a wealth of scientific data during its lifetime. Nearly 100 publications in refereed journals and books have used the RPI data.

In December 2009, Dr. Reinisch founded Lowell Digisonde International, LLC (LDI) to commercially develop and manufacture a new, advanced digital ionosonde — the Digisonde-4D — for monitoring the conditions of Earth's ionosphere in real time. He aims to have a network of ground and space-based ionospheric Doppler radars operating 24/7 around the world to keep tabs on the ionosphere in the wake of solar flares, geomagnetic storms and other global space-weather disturbances. LDI is located at Wannalancit Mills in Lowell; starting in 2010 the company built and installed a number of systems world-wide: China, India, South Korea, South Africa, Belgium, Brazil, and the US. Dr. Reinisch and his team of scientists and engineers devote much of their efforts to Research and Development of new HF radar applications as well as new scientific instrumentation.

Dr. Reinisch and his wife Gerda are long-time residents of Bedford and are still living in the same house they purchased in 1967. They have two daughters, both graduates of the Bedford school system. They live in Connecticut, one has a veterinary practice specializing in animal behavior, and the other is on the faculty of Yale University. Another Bedford resident, Mr. Steve Vassilis, serves as LDI's CFO.

On May 10-13 Lowell Digisonde International, LLC in cooperation with UMass Lowell's Center for Atmospheric Research (UMLCAR) hosted the XIII International GIRO forum. IGF-2011 concentrated on the status and use of the UMLCAR-operated Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory (GIRO) with its 30+ million record DIDBase and DriftBase resident archives including 40+ near-real-time data feeds. More topics included new research applications, quality control, and scientific data interpretation for the Digisonde® family of instrumentation. Participants attended hands-on sessions and visited the Digisonde® field site at Millstone Hill Observatory.

On Dec 1, 2009 Lowell Digisonde International, LLC (LDI) was founded by Prof. Emeritus Bodo W. Reinisch, the former director of the Center for Atmospheric Research at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, who with his team has revolutionized the science of radio sounding from ground (Digisonde® Portable Sounder) and space (IMAGE/RPI). These instruments are essential for space-weather monitoring and ionospheric modeling. Within a few months of company formation, LDI received orders for 18 Digisondes that were delivered in 2011 & 2012.