download as a pdf - Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing ...

Part I. Overviewdata and taxonomies such as those demonstrated in OBIS 15 , and describe a broad range of datastructures, including for example, spectral and finite element models, arbitrary curvilinear coordinatesystems, and multi-level hierarchies of in situ measurements. The parallel progress madeby deploying OPeNDAP servers and clients, while simultaneously designing a comprehensive datamodel and community-wide metadata standards, is a key element of the phased DMAC ImplementationPlan. This element will enable rapid progress both in capacity building and in broadcommunity standards building. It is anticipated that the design of the data model may necessitatechanges or additions to OPeNDAP.On-line BrowseEffective management of the DMAC Subsystem requires the existence of a basic browsing and visualizationcapability that extends across the breadth of IOOS data. The browse capability mustguarantee a minimum quality (to be determined) of geo- and time-referenced graphics and readabletables of values. It must be accessible through standard Web browsers. On-line Browse complementsthe Data Discovery and Data Transport elements of the DMAC Data CommunicationsInfrastructure by providing a uniform means to inspect (visualize) and make comparisons amongIOOS data subsets. The DMAC Subsystem must provide a seamless segue from Data Discovery toOn-line Browse. The On-line Browse software may use DMAC Data Transport to access the data.The On-line Browse capability is a form of information product (see Information Products andApplications). As such it must be an effective informational tool for its target user groups. Thetarget users of the on-line browse capability are the marine data specialists across the IOOS communitywho have responsibilities for managing elements of IOOS. These users may be assumed toshare a high level of technical training, but they represent diverse professions, including scientists,computer specialists, engineers, and technical managers. Although the on-line browse capabilitymust be designed principally to address the needs of these users, it will also be accessible to thegeneral public. It is expected that the on-line browse capability will prove useful to many othergroups of users.DMAC will provide at least one style of user interface through which users can browse IOOS data.In the mature phases of IOOS there may be multiple user interfaces, allowing the on-line browsecapability to address a broader range of users. The on-line browse capability must be accessiblethrough a computer-to-computer “web service” interface, enabling the browse products that are15OBIS is an on-line, open-access, globally distributed network of systematic, ecological, and environmental information systems.Collectively, these systems operate as a dynamic, global digital atlas to communicate biological information about the ocean andserve as a platform for further study of biogeographical relationships in the marine environment (http://iobis.org/).30