GIS and data interoperability at the NASA Goddard DAAC

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Earth Sciences (GES) Distributed Active Archive Center (GDAAC) is developing a number of related Web capabilities that will enable it to make its vast amounts of satellite remote sensing data more easily accessible and integrated by users, regardless of differing formats (i.e., interoperable data), and thus effect a wider distribution and use of NASA remote sensing data. Two approaches were adopted, one focused on facilitating use of the data and the other on facilitating access to the data. An automated system was developed to operationally convert selected GDAAC data into GIS formats and to distribute the GIS-compatible data to a network of Remote Sensing Information Partners. The second approach provides online, interactive capabilities for GIS data searching, visualization, mapping, and analysis; access to ancillary data; and retrieval of data (in various formats) or results of analysis of the data. Specific ongoing efforts include a WebGIS, a WMT-DODS (Web Mapping Testbed-Distributed Oceanographic Data System) server, and an Open GIS Consortium (OGC)-compliant client. These related capabilities could be variously integrated into coherent, application-driven, interoperable, data access systems, which will allow a much larger and more diverse user community to make use of GDAAC data, greatly increase the information density of the data accessed by users, and enable a greater diversity of potential applications of GDAAC data.