1. R. Thieman: Large Database Access and Usage in the Earth and Space Sciences
225
Remote querying of information systems as well as the return and comparison of
results is being tested by the EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
Incorporation of standard software packages to achieve interoperability through
uniformity is another approach. Still other techniques are being developed by
several groups to provide an interoperable environment within particular
disciplines or projects.
The nature of the network-accessible information systems will be highlighted. The
progress of making these systems easier to use and an overview of what might be
expected for the future will be discussed.
2
ACCESSING OAT A
New satellites and the inevitable expansion of the research being done has caused
the amount of available data to increase exponentially. Some of the individual
databases, especially those associated with satellite imagery, are growing extremely
large. Thus, it is becoming impossible to centralize the archives of all related data
in a single location. The growth of computer networks has made this an
unnecessary task, however.
A virtual archive of related databases can be created through the networks even
though the individual databases are widely scattered. Not many of these
coordinated virtual archives have been created, though many individual databases
have been made available through the networks. The user must try to find what is
needed among this ever-growing conglomeration of information and data.
Several solutions to finding useful data were popular in the past. One could collect
paper catalogs of data holdings from the various major archives. Phone calls
among peers or known experts in a particular field was also an effective method.
There was also the approach of writing letters to a variety of places expected to
have useful data. The networks have provided several additional efficient methods.
Letter writing is usually done by electronic mail now. There are a number of
online information systems which were built specially to give information about
the locations of specific types of data and metadata. Finally there are the more
generic tools which are freely available and can be used throughout the networks
for general searches.
The use of networks for data and information search and transfer is growing
quickly. Technical advances have improved the bandwidth available at low cost to
the general user. Also, network tools are freely available which make network
searching as well as putting one's own data and information on the network an
easy task.
For example, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the most popular method of data and
information transfer. FTP servers containing data and information are pervasive,
but it is not always an easy task to determine what servers have the needed data or
information. Many use the "Archie" software to perform free text searches through
textual descriptions about the FTP servers which have been identified.
225
Remote querying of information systems as well as the return and comparison of
results is being tested by the EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
Incorporation of standard software packages to achieve interoperability through
uniformity is another approach. Still other techniques are being developed by
several groups to provide an interoperable environment within particular
disciplines or projects.
The nature of the network-accessible information systems will be highlighted. The
progress of making these systems easier to use and an overview of what might be
expected for the future will be discussed.
2
ACCESSING OAT A
New satellites and the inevitable expansion of the research being done has caused
the amount of available data to increase exponentially. Some of the individual
databases, especially those associated with satellite imagery, are growing extremely
large. Thus, it is becoming impossible to centralize the archives of all related data
in a single location. The growth of computer networks has made this an
unnecessary task, however.
A virtual archive of related databases can be created through the networks even
though the individual databases are widely scattered. Not many of these
coordinated virtual archives have been created, though many individual databases
have been made available through the networks. The user must try to find what is
needed among this ever-growing conglomeration of information and data.
Several solutions to finding useful data were popular in the past. One could collect
paper catalogs of data holdings from the various major archives. Phone calls
among peers or known experts in a particular field was also an effective method.
There was also the approach of writing letters to a variety of places expected to
have useful data. The networks have provided several additional efficient methods.
Letter writing is usually done by electronic mail now. There are a number of
online information systems which were built specially to give information about
the locations of specific types of data and metadata. Finally there are the more
generic tools which are freely available and can be used throughout the networks
for general searches.
The use of networks for data and information search and transfer is growing
quickly. Technical advances have improved the bandwidth available at low cost to
the general user. Also, network tools are freely available which make network
searching as well as putting one's own data and information on the network an
easy task.
For example, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the most popular method of data and
information transfer. FTP servers containing data and information are pervasive,
but it is not always an easy task to determine what servers have the needed data or
information. Many use the "Archie" software to perform free text searches through
textual descriptions about the FTP servers which have been identified.