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Background
Many of the basic ideas about access to large, distributed data holdings were well-understood by those attempting to make a “Space Physics Data System” in the early 1990’s. The technology has improved since, but these documents still are useful:
Some useful overview documents and presentations are:
A NASA Headquarters overview of an LWS (and implicitly the Heliophysics) Data Environment and what will be needed. (ppt, Feb. 2003) Generalizes the Virtual Solar Observatory concept to “VxOs” for other disciplines, linked by common XML registry schema to each other and to various services. Points to the need for appropriate management structure.
The Final Report of the LWS Science Data System Planning Team, the precursor group to the current LWS Ad Hoc Data Environments working group. (Jan. 2002) Recommends a distributed approach growing out of current systems, guided by science needs, with a small administrative staff. Also advocates a firmer WWW presence for the data system—realized by this page and related links. (MSWord version)
An overview of how a data/services access VO would work and how it could be implemented; this one is called the “Scientific Resource Access System,” but the ideas are quite general.
A draft plan for the LWS Data Environment from the LWS Data Architecture Project Scientist. Contains specific recommendations for the next steps.
The Right Amount of Glue: Technologies and Standards relevant to a Future Solar Terrestrial Data Environment presents the idea that standards such as XML and related software tools, and the behavioral standard of sharing data provide the “glue” needed to hold together a data access and use system.
The NASA Heliophysics “Rules of the Road” for data providers and users emphasizes providers’ responsibility to provide open data and analysis tools, and users’ responsibility to consult with and inform providers about their use of the data. This document, somewhat modified, is now in the HP Data Policy.
