Augmenting Basic Web Data Services with Middleware Services to Facilitate Usability and Interoperability

Abstract:

Over the past few years many Data Providers have implemented services that allow for web based (HTTP) interfaces to manipulate, organize, modify, and deliver Earth Science Data. This web architecture provides the foundation for streamlining of Earth Science Users utilization of and interaction with the Data. However, critical components are missing and need to be developed in order to increase the capabilities, potential, and reach of these services. Middleware services represent a class of Data Services that are able to communicate their capabilities more clearly and effectively with Science Data Users while also leveraging the more raw web services on the back end. A Middleware layer of a services architecture functions to coordinate the interactions of the users with the core web services. This simplifies execution, parameter selection, data integration, data delivery, and data analysis activities. This presentation will outline how the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) has utilized core services to provide basic access to data, data manipulation, and processing. Beyond that, the presentation will also detail the enhancement of those efforts through the development and implementation of Middleware to augment capabilities and create workflows necessary to enable Science Users to perform meaningful science activities and analysis faster than before. The Middleware layer acts as the “glue” that allows all these separate services to work together. By moving the algorithms that process and organize data closer to the Data Archive and enabling access to them via web services fronted by Middleware services, the LP DAAC helps Science users to do better, less expensive, and more expansive science much faster than they ever could before.