--- title: "Architecture: Test and qualification | Nexus Observatory" description: "Reference architecture of the Test and qualification platform: six layers, the protocol functions it relies on and the evidence behind every observation." url: https://observatory.global/qualification/architecture/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-11-07 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Test and qualification](https://observatory.global/qualification/) / **Architecture** # How test and qualification is built. One reference architecture under every deployment: the layers of a site, the protocol functions this platform relies on, and the evidence that travels with every observation. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/deployment/) [Industries](https://observatory.global/qualification/industries/) Areas · **5** Technologies · **184** Industries · **4** At a glance ## Frontier and research In Test and qualification, the frontier and research layer holds quantum magnetometers and gravimeters, distributed fibre-optic sensing and machine-learning calibration of sensor networks, each drawn against the standard it follows. Atomic sensors with higher sensitivity and less drift for geophysics and navigation backup. The problem ### Tested against the specification. State on record This page shows how Test and qualification is put together, layer by layer, from the instrument to the record. Lab and field testing of devices and releases, conformance runs against the protocol, interoperability events where suppliers meet on one test plan, and evidence bundles a buyer, an auditor or a regulator can check without taking our word for it. Components - Pole-mounted edge gateway node - Automatic weather station (AWS) to WMO siting practice - Particulate monitoring station and sensor node - Compact X-band weather radar / ISAC sensing node on a lattice tower top - Street small-cell pole with an air-quality node - "AI tower in a box" - Hardware security module, 1U, in an edge rack - Data hall row pair with cold-aisle containment Interfaces **Instruments**: SDI-12 · RS-485 / Modbus RTU · 4–20 mA **Radio**: Ethernet · LTE-M / NB-IoT · LoRaWAN **Time and position**: GNSS 1PPS **Security**: TPM 2.0 **Publishing**: MQTT Where it works - Hydrology and water - Air quality and atmospheric composition - Calibration, metadata and quality control In the story below 1. The system, part by part 2. Assembly 3. Installation 4. Deployment 5. Connections 6. Operation 7. Failure and recovery 8. Scale and federation 9. What you get Scenes · 13 Next steps [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/deployment/) [Open the Field Deployment Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) [See Test and qualification](https://observatory.global/qualification/) 1. Test and qualification · Architecture Tested against the specification. State on record This page shows how Test and qualification is put together, layer by layer, from the instrument to the record. Lab and field testing of devices and releases, conformance runs against the protocol, interoperability events where suppliers meet on one test plan, and evidence bundles a buyer, an auditor or a regulator can check without taking our word for it. 2. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Frontier and research In Test and qualification, the frontier and research layer holds quantum magnetometers and gravimeters, distributed fibre-optic sensing and machine-learning calibration of sensor networks, each drawn against the standard it follows. Atomic sensors with higher sensitivity and less drift for geophysics and navigation backup. 3. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Hydrology and water In Test and qualification, the hydrology and water layer holds water level, discharge by velocity-area and rating curves and acoustic Doppler current profilers, each drawn against the standard it follows. Pressure, radar, bubbler and float sensors at gauging stations and reservoirs. 4. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Meteorology In Test and qualification, the meteorology layer holds air temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure and surface wind, each drawn against the standard it follows. Ventilated, shielded thermometers and hygrometers sited and exposed to WMO practice. Barometers for weather, altimetry correction and storm surge analysis. 5. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Air quality and atmospheric composition In Test and qualification, the air quality and atmospheric composition layer holds reference gas analysers, particulate matter monitors and low-cost sensor systems, each drawn against the standard it follows. Continuous analysers for nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide by reference methods. 6. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments RF, acoustics, cameras and radar In Test and qualification, the RF, acoustics, cameras and radar layer holds spectrum monitoring receivers, direction finding and emitter geolocation and acoustic and noise monitoring, each drawn against the standard it follows. Measured occupancy, interference and emissions across bands at a site. 7. Architecture · 5G and 6G radio access networks Macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters In Test and qualification, the macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters layer holds macro sites, small cells and distributed antenna systems, each drawn against the standard it follows. Tower and rooftop base stations that carry wide-area coverage and most traffic. 8. Trust Proved before it is trusted A network for Test and qualification admits a node only once its hardware root of trust has answered an attestation challenge, whoever supplied it. Signed software, keys kept in secure hardware and a signature on every record let anyone check where a value for Test and qualification came from. 9. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Seismic, geodetic, geomagnetic and radiation In Test and qualification, the seismic, geodetic, geomagnetic and radiation layer holds broadband and strong-motion seismometers, infrasound arrays and continuous GNSS geodetic stations, each drawn against the standard it follows. Ground motion recording for earthquakes, volcanoes and structural response. Low-frequency pressure sensing for explosions, volcanoes and bolides. 10. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Calibration, metadata and quality control In Test and qualification, the calibration, metadata and quality control layer holds calibration laboratories and traceability, measurement uncertainty and field calibration and intercomparison, each drawn against the standard it follows. Calibrations tied to SI standards through accredited laboratories with stated uncertainty. 11. Architecture · In situ sensors and instruments Ocean and coastal In Test and qualification, the ocean and coastal layer holds CTD profilers, acoustic Doppler current profilers and moored and drifting buoys, each drawn against the standard it follows. Conductivity, temperature and depth instruments for salinity and density profiles. Moored and hull-mounted profilers for currents through the water column. 12. What you get Open where it can be, contracted where it must be What is open for Test and qualification is free: the protocol, the methods and the open data can be used and built on by anyone. What must be contracted for Test and qualification, sites, fleets, managed operations and data tiers, Nexus Observatory Inc. delivers at a price per site and per fleet, with service levels in numbers. 13. Next step Test and qualification, planned with you Tell us which layers of Test and qualification you already run and which you want us to design and deliver. An engineer replies with a survey proposal, a design and a scope for Test and qualification, and the plan grows from one site to the network you need. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/deployment/) [Open the Field Deployment Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) [See Test and qualification](https://observatory.global/qualification/) More presentations ## See it from every side. Each opens as a full-screen presentation: deeper pages on the same subject, explainers, stories, guided tours of the places, network scenes and the observatories that came before. [All presentations](https://observatory.global/presentations/) ### In depth [Use case **Utility grid-edge private LTE and wildfire weather**](https://observatory.global/use-cases/utility-grid-edge/) [Use case **Northern civil observatory**](https://observatory.global/use-cases/northern-civil/) [ISIC section · ISIC F **Construction**](https://observatory.global/industries/f-construction/) [ISIC section · ISIC C **Manufacturing**](https://observatory.global/industries/c-manufacturing/) ### Explainers [Explainer · Scientific **Scientific, explained**](https://observatory.global/industries/research/explainer/) [Explainer · Industrial **Industrial** Blast vibration at the pit, fire weather at the grid edge, methane at the fenceline and tailings movement from GNSS.](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/explainer/) [Platform **Test and qualification** Claims are easy; evidence is rare](https://observatory.global/qualification/) [Platform **Connectivity** Public networks were not built for this site](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) ### Stories [Story · Orbit **Orbits as infrastructure** Low orbits are fast and crowded, high orbits slow and spacious. Every choice of altitude is a trade between delay, footprint and how long the satellite…](https://observatory.global/stories/orbit/) [Story · Overview **What changes by 2030** Six shifts will reshape how the Earth is observed before the decade ends: networks that sense, models that forecast, foundation models that read imagery,…](https://observatory.global/stories/horizon-2030/) [Story · Timing and PNT **Time as infrastructure** A 5G cell must hold its phase within 3 µs of its neighbours, ±1.5 µs of a common reference; a synchrophasor’s one per cent vector error leaves room for only…](https://observatory.global/stories/timing-pnt/) ### Places and networks [Guided tour · Guided 3D tour **Orbit view** Ground tracks of a sun-synchronous imager and three shells of a broadband constellation, computed from their orbits over a rotating Earth.](https://observatory.global/environments/orbit-view/) [Guided tour · Guided 3D tour **Ground station** An 11 m class antenna and its companions on a fenced pad, with edge compute that turns each pass into catalogued products before the next one.](https://observatory.global/environments/ground-station/) [Network scene · Private 5G · Mining **Private 5G in an open-pit mine** A private network for haul trucks, drills and slope radar: a mast on the rim, a cell in the pit, the core at the plant, and coverage computed over the benches themselves.](https://observatory.global/environments/networks/private5g-mine/) [Network scene · NTN · Satellite **Satellite direct to device in a mountain valley** Where the valley cell cannot reach, phones on the pass road connect straight to a low-orbit satellite, which relays through its feeder link to a gateway.](https://observatory.global/environments/networks/ntn-d2d/) ### Heritage observatories [Heritage observatory · Low Earth orbit · 2014 **Copernicus Sentinel-1** A pair of radar satellites at a time, imaging the Earth day and night through cloud, with data free to anyone.](https://observatory.global/observatories/sentinel-1/) [Heritage observatory · 200 km · 1978 **Global Positioning System** Thirty-odd satellites, each carrying an atomic clock, broadcasting where they are and what time it is.](https://observatory.global/observatories/gps-navstar/) ### Interactive tools [Interactive tool · Plan a site **Field Deployment Studio** Terrain, devices, coverage, viewshed, power and the best spot for a station, then a deployment request with the plan attached.](https://observatory.global/studio/) **01** Reference architecture ## From one instrument to the grid. Every deployment is drawn on the same six layers. A typed contract sits at every boundary, so parts from different makers fit together. 1. **01** **Instrument** The sensor or radio that makes the measurement, with its calibration. 2. **02** **Node** The device that hosts instruments: identity, time, power and storage. 3. **03** **Site** Nodes in one place, on one mast or in one shelter, with their links. 4. **04** **Cell** Sites that share a backhaul, a power plan and an operator. 5. **05** **Cluster** Cells run as one service, with one fleet plan and one evidence trail. 6. **06** **Grid** Clusters that federate across owners through the open protocol. [**01** **Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**02** **Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**03** **Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**04** **Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**05** **Observe** Every value with quality and provenance.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**06** **Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**07** **Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**08** **Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**09** **Correct** A correction marks what depends on it and publishes a new version.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**10** **Exchange** Products reach people and applications through versioned interfaces.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**11** **Prove** Signed proof receipts that an independent verifier can check.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**12** **Exit and decommission** An open exit path, and a record that closes.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) The protocol functions this platform relies on most. **02** Trust and evidence ## Every observation carries its proof. What a buyer, a regulator or a partner grid can check, on every site we build. Evidence ### Identity and attestation Hardware-rooted identity, with a quote checked at every join. Evidence ### Segmentation Least privilege between nodes, tenants and sites. Evidence ### Time integrity Every clock monitored, every holdover logged. Evidence ### Evidence bundles What was done, by whom, with what result. Evidence ### Qualification state Each device and release, with the tests behind it. Evidence ### Signed plans Software and configuration change only by a signed plan. **03** Read further ## The open specification behind it. [Observatory Protocol Specification Functions, state machines, objects and flows. Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) [Observatory Protocol Reference designs Nodes and sites drawn to the protocol. Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/reference-designs/) [Observatory Protocol Conformance Run the suite against an implementation. Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/conformance/) **04** On this site ## Where to go next. [Test and qualification Areas Every area, with its systems and standards. Open →](https://observatory.global/qualification/areas/) [Test and qualification Technologies The layered map of what we build with. Open →](https://observatory.global/qualification/technologies/) [Test and qualification Industries The industry sites built on this platform. Open →](https://observatory.global/qualification/industries/) [Test and qualification Resources Explainer, stories, specification and forms. Open →](https://observatory.global/qualification/resources/) ## Bring us the site. We bring the survey, the design and the crew. The form names who receives your details. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/deployment/) [Contact](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) **Test and qualification** . Tested against the specification. State on record. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Test and qualification - [Overview](https://observatory.global/qualification/) - [Areas](https://observatory.global/qualification/areas/) - [Technologies](https://observatory.global/qualification/technologies/) - [Architecture](https://observatory.global/qualification/architecture/) - [Industries](https://observatory.global/qualification/industries/) - [Resources](https://observatory.global/qualification/resources/) - [Contact](https://observatory.global/qualification/contact/) Platforms - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) - [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) - [Space and satellite systems](https://observatory.global/space/) - [Positioning, navigation and timing](https://observatory.global/pnt/) - [Security and trust](https://observatory.global/security-trust/) - [Digital twins and simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) - [Data & licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) - [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) - [Design and integration](https://observatory.global/integration/) - [Test and qualification](https://observatory.global/qualification/) - [Operations centre](https://observatory.global/operations/) - [Training and enablement](https://observatory.global/training/) - [Frontier labs](https://observatory.global/labs/) Solutions - [Early warning](https://observatory.global/use-cases/street-flood/) - [Wildfire and fire weather](https://observatory.global/use-cases/wildfire-camera/) - [Environmental compliance](https://observatory.global/use-cases/methane-fenceline/) - [Asset monitoring](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/) - [Private networks](https://observatory.global/connectivity/private-5g/) - [Remote power and sites](https://observatory.global/use-cases/remote-microgrid/) - [Climate and resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Site twins](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) - [Data licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/industries/public-safety/) - [Government](https://observatory.global/industries/government/) - [Cities](https://observatory.global/industries/cities/) - [Civil resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/resilience/) - [Communities](https://observatory.global/industries/communities/) - [Humanitarian](https://observatory.global/industries/humanitarian/) - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Water](https://observatory.global/industries/water/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/oceans/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) - [Energy](https://observatory.global/industries/energy/) - [Telecom](https://observatory.global/industries/telecom/) - [Transport](https://observatory.global/industries/transport/) - [Infrastructure](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/) - [Mining](https://observatory.global/industries/mining/) - [Industry](https://observatory.global/industries/industry/) - [Research](https://observatory.global/industries/research/) - [Education](https://observatory.global/industries/education/) - [Health](https://observatory.global/industries/health/) - [Insurance and finance](https://observatory.global/industries/insurance/) - [Events](https://observatory.global/industries/events/) Products - [Field Deployment Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) - [Station Builder](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) - [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) - [Data products](https://observatory.global/data-products/) - [APIs and SDKs](https://observatory.global/protocol/developers/) - [Edge runtime and fleet](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware catalogue](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Reference designs](https://observatory.global/protocol/reference-designs/) Resources - [Learn](https://observatory.global/learn/) - [Stories](https://observatory.global/stories/) - [Presentations](https://observatory.global/presentations/) - [Environments](https://observatory.global/environments/) - [Network scenes](https://observatory.global/environments/networks/) - [Observatories atlas](https://observatory.global/observatories/) - [Earth and maps](https://observatory.global/earth/) - [Technologies](https://observatory.global/technologies/) - [Countries](https://observatory.global/countries/) - [Spectrum](https://observatory.global/spectrum/) - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Specification](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) - [Conformance](https://observatory.global/protocol/conformance/) - [Open source](https://observatory.global/open/) - [Data credits](https://observatory.global/credits/) Company - [About](https://observatory.global/about/) - [Open governance](https://observatory.global/consortium/) - [Security and trust](https://observatory.global/security/) - [Careers](https://observatory.global/contact/careers/) - [Press](https://observatory.global/contact/press/) - [Contact sales](https://observatory.global/contact/) - [Privacy requests](https://observatory.global/privacy-request/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. [Security and trust](https://observatory.global/security/) [Privacy choices](https://observatory.global/privacy-choices/) [Accessibility](https://observatory.global/legal/accessibility/) [Privacy](https://observatory.global/legal/privacy/) [Terms](https://observatory.global/legal/terms/) [Status](https://status.observatory.global/) [Help translate](https://observatory.global/translate/)