Purpose/Rationale:

The Task Team is responsible for coordinating activities among the nodes to maintain, improve, and expand the functions and use of the IDN. Efforts include updating data set and service information and identifying new data sets and data services, updating and improving the standard Directory Interchange Format (DIF) and Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) for metadata, advancing the database programming and structure, and researching/creating a variety of advanced search and retrieval techniques.
 

Task Team Focus:
The IDN is a discovery service that provides free access to Earth science metadata and frequently provides links directly to data sets. Its goal is to permit rapid and efficient identification, location, and overview information of Earth science data sets. The in-situ and remotely sensed data sets in the directory are held by agencies, organizations, and educational institutions worldwide. The IDN also offers a directory of Earth science data-related services.

The IDN hosts an online forum, the INTEROP, as a forum for discussing issues that relate to the Directory Interchange Format (DIF), such as modification to content requirements, syntax specifications, and access considerations to the information held in the DIF. To subscribe to the Interop, please go to http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/interop/ .
To view the current Subscriber List click the grey button entitled, "View Subscriber List".

CEOS IDN Newsletter, Sept 2007 Issue #23
CEOS IDN Newsletter, April 2007 Issue #22
CEOS IDN Newsletter, August 2006 Issue #21
CEOS IDN Newsletter, March 2006 Issue #20
CEOS IDN Newsletter, August 2005 Issue #19
CEOS IDN Newsletter, February 2005 Issue #18

• Formal Standard: ISO 19115
• Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
• Geospatial One-Stop
• Catalogue Interoperability Protocol (CIP) from Interoperable Catalog System (ICS) Task Team
• Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
• Open Archives Initiative

IDN Task Team members review any suggestions for additions or modifications to improve/expand valid keywords.

Services Task Team activities are closely monitored for new Service Entry Resource Format records (SERFs).
 

Duration of Task Team:
On-going with technological upgrades and content growth/maintenance.

Completed Projects:
Upgraded web site.

New IDN Portals added since May 2007:

• NASA Data
• GEOSS Portal
  • Ecosystems
  • Forests
  • Global Climate Observing System
  • InSitu Instruments
  • Ocean Climate
  • Physical Oceanographic DAAC Data Center
  • Tsunami Data
  • Tsunami Data Services
  • Water Management in Latin America
  • Wildfires
• ESA
• Antarctic Master Directory
  • Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic

MD9.6 Highlights (Released July 2006):

• Upgrade taxonomies in database and docBUILDER to extend logical patterns of understanding for search and retrieval.
  Science Keywords
  Platforms
  Instruments
  Locations
  Chronostratigraphic Units
• Develop “Relative Temporal Coverage” Capability for data sets. Accommodate data “pools” where current data are offered for specified periods and rotated as temporal subsets.
• docBUILDER enhancements:
  - Provide automatic logging for docBUILDERsolo registration.
  - Increase the character limit for all URL resources.

MD9.7 Highlights (Released April 2007):

• New GCMD Homepage and web site functionality.
• New DIF & SERF metadata display.
• Science keyword taxonomy extended to five levels.
• Expanded keyword hierarchies for geographic location and chronostratigraphic units (geologic time).
• New Platform & Instrument hierarchical keyword options in docBUILDER.
• New features within docBUILDER authoring tool.
• XML namespaces provided within the records.
• Java 1.5 and Tomcat 5.0 upgrades incorporated in new release. Keyword Interface now driven by RDF SKOS data model backed by Berkeley XML database.
• Subscription services revised for new/updated data set descriptions. New Daily RSS Feed offered for new data set and data service descriptions.

MD9.7.1 Highlights (Released June 2007):

• Greater accuracy for the geographic coverage of data sets in the map display.
• Minimum/maximum altitude/depth in the spatial coverage field.
• "Platform Logistics" group information as part of the platform ancillary description.
• Updated Ancillary Description Writer's Guide.
• An improved Taxonomy associated with finding Data Center names for U.S. Federal Agencies in the docBUILDER tool.
• An improved Data Center Name "Look-up" page in docBUILDER.
• A five-level hierarchy for Atmospheric Chemistry and Ecological Dynamics science keywords.
• Access to platform and instrument descriptions through a blue diamond "icon" display.
• An enhanced Keyword Interface to support interoperability with ECHO through the Warehouse Inventory Search Tool (WIST) client .
• An option to View Full-Size image on Multimedia Samples.

Task Team Mailing List:
 

Task Team Lead Name and Contact Information:
Lola Olsen
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center / Code 610.2
Building 32 S130D
Greenbelt, MD 20771
USA

Telephone: +1-301-614-5361
Fax: +1-301-614-5268
Lola.M.Olsen@nasa.gov