Multi-sensor distributive on-line processing, visualization and analysis system

The ability to use data stored in the current Earth Observing System (EOS) archives for studying regional or global phenomena is highly dependent on having a detailed understanding of the data's internal structure and physical implementation. Gaining this understanding and applying it to data reduction is a time-consuming task that must be undertaken before the core investigation can begin. This is an especially difficult challenge when science objectives require users to deal with large multi-sensor data sets that are usually of different formats, structures, and resolutions. The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) has taken a major step towards meeting this challenge by developing an infrastructure that supports a Web interface that allows users to perform interactive analysis online without downloading any data. The underlying infrastructure that integrates all the components is called GES-DISC Interactive Online Visualization and Analysis Infrastructure or "Giovanni". Giovanni provides interactive, online, analysis tools for data users to facilitate their research