Data Interoperability Task (DIT)

Objectives & Aims

To explore the issues involved with data interoperability covering:

1. Accessing data in a range of formats over the Internet using World-Wide-Web technologies.

2. Facilitating GIS access to data in a range of formats.

The lessons learnt from this activity will be a valuable input to smaller data providers who wish to make data products available over the Internet, and GIS users who have to deal with data from a number of different sources.

Rationale

The use of networks for data distribution is expanding rapidly although network capacity is not sufficient for transfer of large volumes of data. However, network bandwidth is continuing to increase rapidly and so significant data transfer via networks is likely to become increasingly popular. By investigating and reporting on the technical problems of network data access there is an opportunity to influence developments in this field, prevent duplicated effort and encourage standardisation before the explosion of network data access occurs. Target end date is planned to be a 2 year activity - ending in autumn of 1998. Further information can be found on the QinetiQ CEOS Homepage and the Data Subgroup Homepage

Milestones

(Major delivery/review dates):

1. Spring 97 - First Meeting

2. Spring 98 - DIT Home Page with links to related pages.

3. Spring 98 - Draft Lesson Learnt Documents.

4. Autumn 98 - Results of Data Description activities.

Summary Description Of Activity

The activities fall into five main areas:

1. Summary of existing User Requirements studies e.g., for DODS and for DAAC-in-a-box (DIB).

2. Report on existing on-line systems e.g., DODS, DIB, Ferret etc.

3. Carry out a number of prototyping activities referred to as Experiments:

   • Experiment 1: Investigate the use of NASA’s DIAL web-based science data server. Produce a Lessons Learnt document.

   • Experiment 2: Investigate the use of the OGDI software. Produce a Lessons Learnt document.

4. Investigate how best to link datasets with relevant external data.

5. Descriptions and Data Dictionaries.

Most of the effort will be required for the prototyping activities of item 3. Links to CEOS agency programme plans, to WGISS primary objectives, and to other WGISS tasks (e.g. dependencies or scheduling): The activity is linked to NASA’s EOSDIS and is aimed at increasing international cooperation. There are also links to the Protocol, Browse and World Wide Web Task Teams of the WGISS Access Subgroup.

Participation (agencies involved, names, contacts, and any specific roles. The following agencies have expressed an interest in participating in this activity; BNSC, NASA, NASDA, CCRS, CNES, NOAA. Strategy for adoption of results (including specific agency programme plans). Documents resulting from this work are to be made easily available on the WWW. Prototype software will also be available through that medium.

6-Month Progress

Web homepage created. DIAL software installed at NASDA and QinetiQ. Work with OGDI begun.