A Onenoaa Concept Prototype For Data Viewing

Abstract

NOAA has historically been a primary provider of environmental information since its inception. This information is available to users in a variety of formats, and variety of spatial and temporal scales. However, until recently, software and networking capabilities have not been available which would provide NOAA with the ability to easily view and interact with this wide variety of data using a common interface. With an emphasis on programs such as NOAA’s Global Earth Observing Systems and the OneNOAA concept, having this capability readily available to all NOAA staff becomes more important for fulfilling NOAA’s mission. For this early prototype work, our goal was to develop a seamless capability for display and interaction with data used by NOAA to perform its mission. Several premises and assumptions were developed at the start of this investigation to help focus on possible development paths. First, NOAA has a continuum of user needs from short-fused mission-critical needs, to non-critical situational awareness interest, to exploratory and research needs. This system would not be developed to replace short-fused or mission-critical systems but would enhance data visualization capabilities in non-critical areas of interest. Second, there was sufficient similarity amongst datasets to support integration. Data sets could be geo-referenced and temporally identified. Third, data could be remotely- accessed using client/server data architecture.