SRBEX GIS and Data Management System

Introduction

The various SRBEX components produce output datasets, and require input data, which encompass a wide range of spatial and temporal extents and represent a variety of data formats and map projections. A smooth flow of data between SRBEX components and effective support for analyzing and disseminating results are essential. To this end, we are providing:

Data Management Facilities

We are addressing the data management requirements in two ways. First, we have created a geographically nested hierarchical database which assigns datasets to database levels on the basis of geographic extent. This database currently supports three search options: by geographic hierarchy, starting with the World; via an alphabetical index of names of geographic subregions; and by latitude and longitude, with an option to restrict the search to selected types of data. The database search facility is built upon a standard hypertext document browser (NCSA Mosaic), and includes links to descriptive information about the PSU/MSFC EOS investigation. We have also developed database support software to perform functions such as adding new geographic subregions to the database tree, loading datasets into the database and creating preliminary documentation for them, and checking database integrity and consistency.

Second, we are attempting to overcome the problems inherent in applying spatially-based GIS to multitemporal data by developing a prototype database which gives equal emphasis to the temporal, spatial, and content attributes of the data. The temporally based component of this prototype is in place (Peuquet and Wentz, 1994), and implementation of the second, location-based, component is underway. We have also undertaken a broader study of spatiotemporal representations of information with the realization that addressing complex human and environmental issues such as global warming and human impact on the environment requires not only sophisticated, multidimensional tools for handling and analyzing empirical data, but also an integrated, interdisciplinary representational framework from the conceptual (human) viewpoint (Peuquet, 1994b).

Data Analysis and Manipulation Facilities

To support data analysis and manipulation, we are supporting several standard GIS and image processing packages, including Arc/Info and GRASS GIS software and ERDAS Imagine and LAS (Land Analysis System) image processing facilities.

We are exploiting the AML (Arc Macro Language) component of Arc/Info and the availability of source code and support libraries for the public-domain LAS to add additional capabilities to these packages as needed to meet SRBEX science requirements. In particular, we have developed a set of AML modules to extract and reformat soils information from the STATSGO database, collaborated with personnel at the Alaska SAR facility and the EROS Data Center to port LAS to the Sun Solaris operating system, and added or enhanced LAS programs for converting datasets between Arc/Info and LAS formats, aggregating data to new scales and projections, and transferring mesoscale model outputs from the CRAY computer environment to workstation-based GIS facilities.

Electronic Dissemination of Research Results

To make research results and information about work in progress accessible to other members of the physical climate and hydrology research community, we have established a World Wide Web server. The home page for this server (at Uniform Resource Locator (URL) http:/ /eoswww.essc.psu.edu/) contains links to a variety of information about project objectives, investigators, and results, as well as to the database search facilities. This server can be reached via hypertext links from the "Interdisciplinary Science Teams" entry in NASA's EOS homepage and from the "Physical Climate and Hydrology" homepage maintained by the University of Arizona.

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