Possibilities of an Interoperable Data System: The DODS Model

Summary of the slide deck: 
The slide deck presents the DODS (Distributed Oceanographic Data System) model, an architectural framework designed to facilitate easy access to data over a network in a consistent manner, serving as an extension to the web. DODS enables data movement over the network, similar to HTML's function for text and pictures, utilizing HTTP as the underlying transport protocol. It operates through a client-server model, where data subsets are requested via fully constrained URLs, processed on the server side, and delivered to the client application. DODS offers various interfaces ranging from command-line to graphical user interfaces, each differing in ease of use. The presentation demonstrates accessing and processing data sets via MATLAB with DODS, highlighting the seamless integration and automation of data retrieval and analysis tasks. Furthermore, it discusses server-side processing capabilities, exemplified by the GrADS-DODS server, which performs operations on data at the server site, reducing the amount of data transferred and alleviating the user's need to understand the data format. Additionally, the slide deck illustrates the concept of two-tier delivery systems using LAS (Live Access Server) and LAS-Lite as examples, where HTML and DODS protocols are employed for user interaction and data movement, respectively. Lastly, it provides insights into the extensive data availability via DODS, encompassing various regional and global datasets accessible across multiple sites globally, serving as a valuable resource for oceanographic research and analysis.