Data Discovery

This slide deck was presented at the OPeNDAP Data Discovery Workshop that was convened by OPeNDAP and hosted by UCAR/Unidata from May 15-16, 2006 in Boulder, CO. 

Summary: 

The presentation introduces key components and processes related to data management and access in the context of digital repositories and interoperability protocols. It outlines various technologies and standards utilized in this domain, including OAI-PMH, Mapserver, SOAP, Open API, and portals.

The OAI-PMH architecture is described, emphasizing its benefits such as independence from the main database, standardized queries, and compatibility with various metadata formats. The harvesting process includes transferring metadata subsets to repositories and harvesting them for use.

THREDDS metadata is harvested using OAI/PMH, including monitoring harvest status and uploading XML to a database. Prototype Mapserver interoperability enables access to the GCMD's Web Mapping Service through OGC WMS-compatible clients. Open API integration with DODS/OPeNDAP for querying the GCMD directly is highlighted, along with the SOAP initiative, which aims to enhance security and offer specialized web services.

Finally, the presentation touches upon the functionalities of the current server, including operations related to validation, documentation, personnel, and other miscellaneous functions. The importance of portals in facilitating data access and the significance of standards like DIF/SERF is mentioned.