WDCs and GSDI David M. Clark World Data Center Panel Global Data Access and Integration Workshop May 8-9, 2000, Canberra, Australia

The World Data Center System

Guiding Principles Open to all scientists Non-discriminatory access to data Data exchanged free or for the cost of reproduction Host institutions support long-term operations

Where are the WDCs? 48 WDCs worldwide China, Russia, US, Japan, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, India, and AUSTRALIA Disciplines cover entire range of Earth and Space Science New WDC applications are in progress Organized under and sanctioned by national ICSU adherent body

WHAT MAKES IT WORK? Open access to data Data with scientists Scientists with data Coupling scientific and data management expertise –Database compilations –Database integration –Product development –Data publishing Long-term commitment –Archive –Infrastructure

WDC Global Infrastructure WDCs are a loose federation of Data Centers All operating under basic high level principles Disciplines are the foundation of the WDC system “Standards” are currently implemented between disciplines WDC disciplines developing a “network” infrastructure –SPIDR, Paleoclimatology, Geomagnetism Factors –Implement standards of National sponsoring agency –Resources limit level of implementation

The Space Physics Interactive Data Resource II (SPIDR) Promoting international scientific data exchange through enabling technology.

SPIDR II “Wolf” version

SPIDR II Objectives & Principles Provide a uniform interface to STP data. Provide an open extensible architecture. Provide intelligent services to handle ever expanding data archives. Provide integrated tools to the end user. Meet the needs of the STP data user. Develop using the “open source” paradigm. Provide visualization tools for all data sets. Employ “intelligent” computing techniques, such as neuro-fuzzy applications. Provide automatic reliable data mirroring. Respond to the needs of the STP user community.

WDC for Paleoclimatology Mirror Sites WDC for Paleoclimatology Boulder, Colorado, USA Médias-France: Toulouse, France University of Nairobi: Nairobi, Kenya University of the Witwatersrand: Johannesburg, South Africa Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas: Mendoza, Argentina (Dec 2000) Complete mirror of www and ftp sites, updated weekly Improved regional access, redundant storage

What is needed? International Standard (e.g. ISO/TC211) National commitment to GSDI Discipline acceptance of new standard(s) Heritage “systems” integration International program and organization implementation –IGOS, IGBP, UNEP, WDC, etc

What Does The Future Hold? New ISO standards will make an impact Implementation of COTS using standards New “network” and “systems” paradigms will affect the mode of operation of WDCs Ultimately user driven

All WDC Workshop to plan the future of the WDC System November 6-8, 2000, at the National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina (USA) Possible themes: –Networks (human, WWW, and systems) are the future for the WDC system –WDC nodes or variations of a “standard” data center may be necessary –Regional WDCs may be considered –Data restrictions and commercial ownership of data will affect the future of the WDCs The 21st century WDC will evolve to address these issues