The Integrated Data Viewer A web-enabled enabled tool for geoscientific analysis and visualization

Transcription

1 The Integrated Data Viewer A web-enabled enabled tool for geoscientific analysis and visualization Don Murray Unidata Program Center University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

2 Overview Unidata Overview Integrated Data Viewer (IDV) Overview IDV features Supported data formats Web enabled features IDV as an Integrator Visual Geophysical Exploration Environment (VGEE) Summary Demo

3 Unidata Overview Mission Statement: Provide data, tools and community leadership for enhanced Earth-system education and research At the Unidata Program Center, we Facilitate (real-time) Data Access: IDD/LDM, THREDDS Provide tools: netcdf, IDV, GEMPAK, McIDAS Support faculty and staff Build and advocate for a community of geoscience educators and researchers

4 What is the IDV? Unidata s s newest scientific analysis and visualization tool Freely available Java framework and reference application Provides 2-2 and 3-D 3 displays of geoscientific data Stand-alone alone or networked application Built on VisAD library

5 VisAD s s Data Model Designed to support virtually any numerical data Metadata can be integrated into each data object Supports mathematical operations as well as evaluation and resampling of data Supports spatial and temporal co- location of data Supports data sharing among different users, different data sources and different scientific disciplines May be used independently of the VisAD display model Gully erosion/deposition from VisAD-based DEMViewer

6 IDV Features 2- and 3-D 3 D visualizations Integrated displays of a variety of data types Access to data on THREDDS servers Suite of data probes for interactive exploration (slice and dice) Animations (temporal and spatial) HTML interface for pedagogic materials XML configuration and bundling allows collaboration with other educators Auto-update update through Web Start Model simulation of wind, isentropic potential vorticity and low level moisture flow over the Great Salt Lake basin

7 Supported Data Formats The IDV can integrate displays of a variety of geoscientific and other data including: Scientific Georeferenced netcdf data Vis5D data McIDAS/ADDE (satellite, radar, surface and upper air) Archive Level II radar Social ESRI shapefiles (e.g. map boundaries) ArcInfo ASCIIGRID (e.g., DEM) GeoTIFF OGC Standards Educational HTML QuickTime NO 2 concentrations over Berlin, Germany data from netcdf, maps from shapefile

8 Unique IDV Features Interactive probes for dataset exploration Parameter readouts Vertical profiles Time/Height displays Lat/Lon/Alt position QuickTime capture and playback Incorporation of educational materials User defined formulas Extensible framework Extensive use of network resources

9 Web enabled features Client/Server data access XML Configuration XML Persistence Integrated HTML Viewer Use of Java Web Start Real-time collaboration

10 Web Enabled Features Client/Server Data Access Access data from DODS/OPeNDAP, ADDE or WMS servers, as well as local files, HTTP and FTP Allows subsetting of large datasets Can use THREDDS catalogs of data holdings indexed in digital libraries (e.g. DLESE) for discovery and usage metadata

11 IDV uses XML to configure the user experience Configuration files can be local or distributed across one or more web servers Offers flexibility to adapt the interface to different: learners tasks data sets content areas Web Enabled Features XML Configuration

12 Web Enabled Features XML Persistence State of the application (loaded data sources and data depictions) can be saved in XML bundles Bundles can be loaded at startup or imported on-the the-fly Displays can be annotated and these can be saved in the bundle as explanations Bundles can be distributed around the Internet (on web servers or e attachments)

13 Web Enabled Features Integrated HTML Viewer IDV includes a customized HTML viewer Viewer can be used to provide context with associated data displays IDV displays can be easily embedded in the HTML Can be used as a customized UI which controls the IDV

14 Web Enabled Features Use of Java Web Start Java Web Start can be used to load in the IDV from a web page JNLP files can include pointers to configuration files and bundles for customization (VGEE) Web Start provides automatic software updates

15 Web Enabled Features Collaboration Features Users can share IDV sessions Works locally in a classroom or remotely through the Internet Configurable as peer- to-peer, or client- server mode Incorporated chat facility and drawing tool for communication

16 IDV as an Integrator Integrating data from disparate data sources is easy with the IDV Data can come from local and remote locations Data on different projections are automatically remapped Data from different times are synced Isosurface of radar reflectivity from Level II data source, topography from ASCIIGRID DEM file, and interstate highways and county outlines/labels from shapefiles.

17 Extending the IDV The IDV framework can be used and extended to provide tools for other disciplines/applications: May need new DataSource objects for adapting unsupported data formats XML configuration for new User Interface New controls for new displays Components can be used to create pedagogical applications incorporating curriculum materials (e.g., VGEE).

18 The Visual Geophysical Exploration Environment (VGEE) The VGEE is an integrated framework in which students use authentic data and tools to investigate a contemporary scientific issue It includes: A learner-centered interface to the IDV Concept models that support physical insight A curriculum to guide inquiry A catalog of data and services to use data

19 Probing Data in the VGEE The VGEE adds simple, interactive java applets to the IDV. These applets, or concept models, can be used to probe data. This helps students see basic physics in real data and apply theoretical understandings to real geophysical phenomena.

20 GEON - A Geologic Example GEON is building a national information infrastructure to support the geosciences by allowing seamless data and tool interoperability. GEON provides an opportunity to extend the VGEE to a geologic context: A global data-set of shear-wave velocities Enhancements to IDV & datasets to allow 3D visualization of data Develop a curriculum to guide use and exploration of the data Develop and repurpose concept models to support these investigations Upper mantle shear-wave velocity anomalies; 50 to 225 km Credits: Mike Ritzwoller (CU, 3D tomography), Bill Holt and Corne Kreemer (SUNY Stonybrook, velocities and strain rate), Chuck Meertens (UNAVCO, IDV bundle).

21 Future Development New Data Types Support for additional geoscience data sets (geologic, oceanographic, hydrologic) More GIS data (GeoTIFF, Shapefile features, WCS) New Features Web log (blog) integration Catalog annotation Auto-update update of displays Trajectory Tracers (a la Vis5D)

22 Future Development with THREDDS Middleware to support metadata queries for available times and parameters (not just catalogs) Enhanced data choosers which take into account the semantics of the datasets

23 Summary Unidata s s IDV is a freely available, powerful analysis and visualization tool which can facilitate geoscientific education and research by: Integrating diverse, distributed datasets Allowing customized user experiences Enabling collaborations Unidata is looking to work with other developers to enhance and expand the IDV capabilities Unidata is looking to work with educators to develop curriculum materials which use the IDV.

24 For Further Information Integrated Data Viewer homepage VisAD homepage Visual Geophysical Exploration Environment (VGEE) homepage GEON/IDV (UNAVCO) GEON.html