Development of RESTful services and map-based user interface tools for access to the Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) Synthesis

Abstract:

The Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT, http://gmrt.marine-geo.org) synthesis is a multi-resolution compilation of quality controlled multibeam sonar data, collected by scientists and institutions worldwide, that is merged with gridded terrestrial and marine elevation data. The multi-resolutional elevation components of GMRT are delivered to the user through a variety of interfaces as both images and grids. The GMRT provides quantitative access to gridded data and images to the full native resolution of the sonar as well as attribution information and access to source data files. To construct the GMRT, multibeam sonar data are evaluated, cleaned and gridded by the MGDS Team and are then merged with gridded global and regional elevation data that are available at a variety of scales from 1km resolution to sub-meter resolution. As of June 2015, GMRT included processed swath data from nearly 850 research cruises with over 2.7 million ship-track miles of coverage.

Several new services were developed over the past year to improve access to the GMRT Synthesis. In addition to our long-standing Web Map Services, we now offer RESTful services to provide programmatic access to gridded data in standard formats including ArcASCII, GeoTIFF, COARDS/CF-compliant NetCDF, and GMT NetCDF, as well as access to custom images of the GMRT in JPEG format. An attribution metadata XML service was also developed to return all relevant information about component data in an area, including cruise names, multibeam file names, and gridded data components. These new services are compliant with the EarthCube GeoWS Building Blocks specifications. Supplemental services include the release of data processing reports for each cruise included in the GMRT and data querying services that return elevation values at a point and great circle arc profiles using the highest available resolution data. Our new and improved map-based web application, GMRT MapTool, provides user access to the GMRT synthesis and makes direct use of GMRT's web services. This interface integrates the suite of GMRT web services, enabling users to efficiently create custom grids and images, query the GMRT for an elevation point or profile, access full attribution metadata, view data processing reports, and download source data files.