Distrbution and Accessing Environmental Information via the Master Environmental Library

Richard Biquig, James Cirbin*, and Valentine Anantharaj*
Naval Research Laboratry
& Grace Hopper Avenue, Monatery, CA 93943, USA
* Center for Air Sea Technology, Mississippi State University Stennis Space Centre, MS 39529, USA

Information about the Earth's natural environment - the atmosphere, the ocean, and the terrain - is collected, studied andmanaged by diverse international and national agencies. Often times, different policies, procedures and techniques for managing and distributing similar data and information. The Master Environmental Library (MEL) Project wqas initiated and sposered by Defence Modeling and Stimulations to facilitate the discovery, retrival, and delivery of environmental information that are geographcally distributed amoung the cooperting data centres.

MEL has developed and implementated a digital library architechture that leverages cutting edge technologies, and international and national standards to provide direct and timely access to environmental infomation and data from the participating and cooperating data centers, also known as "MEL Nodes" or " MEL Rsource Sites". The available information resources include models, algorithms, and documents, in addition to digital Environmental Data. MEL is currently US DoD community, but is accessible to the other govermental, commercial and academic communities as well.

Conceptually, using MEL system ( http://mel.dmso.mil/ ) is analogous to using the card catalogue in the library. The users search and browse the digital card catalogue of metadata records. Searches are formulated with a combination of the geographic region on interest, time periode of content, and Keywords. The MEL client server software, hosted at the respective resource sites, automatically processes the requests for data, and delivers the data files to the users via the internet. Thus MEL truly provides a one-stop shopping environment for patrons and for patrons and an extensible solution for data providers.

[ITO - 98] [Welcome] [1998 - Internetional Year of the Oceans] [Objectives of ITO-98] [Plenary Lectures] [Technical Sessions] [Commercial/Corporate Presentation] [Exhibition/Demonstration] [Ocean IT CDROM] [Awards/Financial Assistance] [Fees / Charges] [Souvenir] [Post Symposium Event] [International Scientific Programme Committee] [Organizing Committee] [Schedule] [Scientific Programme Summary] [The Host] [Travelling / Accomodation] [Registration Forms] [Abstracts]

"to continously improve our understanding of the seas
around us and to translate this knowledge to benefit all"