NCSA Scientific Data Browser (SDB)
What it isThe Scientific Data Browser (SDB) is a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) program that serves data from a variety of scientific file formats. The SDB reads data in it's native format by calling the appropriate file access library (HDF, etc) visualizing the data if necessary, and then formatting the results in HTML to present to the user via the Web. The primary file formats that the SDB reads is HDF and netCDF. At various stages of development the SDB has been adapted to read: the Common Data Format (CDF) , Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) , and HDF-EOS ( completed by Hughes STX ).
DemonstrationSelect for a demonstration of the SDB's capabilities
FeaturesThe SDB provides a means for users to identify the files of interest to them before downloading an entire dataset. The SDB visualizes and displays subsampled images contained in a file and performs some rudimentary data analysis and visualization functions such as graphing tabular data and viewing images with a variety of palettes. The SDB also delivers subsets of the data to the user via the Web. These subsets can be returned as HTML formatted text, as ASCII formatted text, or as a HDF file. Delivering subsets is a good idea because users typically only need a part of a complex dataset. For instance, the user may need data from a small region within a large geographic area, perhaps for selected instruments or time periods.
How to use itThe SDB is written in the C programming language. The SDB executable is installed as a Web service; therefore, a Web server with Common Gateway Interface service enabled must be on the target machine. The SDB is installed in the "CGI" bin or "Scripts" directory of the Web service. Intended purposeThe Scientific Data Browser provides easy fast access to a wide range of scientific data via the Web, facilitating data sharing between science teams and the general public. Science teams can download data files from a large data provider, augment this "mini-archive" with their own datasets, and make the whole heterogeneous data collection accessible via the Web. Users can interactively browse the contents of a file, examine a subset of the data, view a thumbnail image of the data, and download the desired subset. The SDB can be coupled with services for extracting, indexing, and searching metadata to create a complete repository service. One such system, the Hughes/NCSA DIAL service, permits users to query a catalog, locate the files of interest, and then browse and retrieve the file. Obtaining software
For More InformationFor more information about the SDB, see
NCSA
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