Scientific Formats for Geospatial Data Preservation. A Study of Suitability and Performance

摘要

The volume, complexity, variability and accessibility of geospatial of digital geospatial data pose formidable challenges for the National Archives. Scientific and engineering communities faces many of the same challenges in managing large, complex digital data collections. This study examines gridded and vector geospatial data through the prism of scientific data management, with particular emphasis to scientific data formats and software. Geospatial data is characterized in terms of data types, size and storage requirements. Scientific data formats are described, including some of the benefits of using scientific data formats and software. Sample geospatial data types are mapped to corresponding scientific data structures, in particular those supported by HDF5 and HDF-EOS 5. The paper concludes with a report on experiments that are underway to assess storage and access implications of using HDF5 and HDF-EOS 5 for sample geospatial data types that are of particular interest to NARA.