National Data Grid - NDG
What is the National Data Grid?
The National Data Grid Demonstrator Project refers to the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial information (CRC SI) project - CRC SI 6.11 Demonstrator Project, which was approved for funding by the CRC SI in November 2008.
The National Data Grid (NDG) Demonstrator project builds on the earlier PEMS Demonstrator Project (CRC SI Demonstrator Project 6.6) which was completed in October 2008.
The NDG is a data platform that adopts a grid cell (also called raster) based approach to managing spatial information (SI). The basic objective of NDG is to provide a platform which supports the SI needs of the modellers and decisions support systems. Once established, the same platform can also support simple spatial queries and analyses to spatially enable professionals, with little or no SI knowledge, to a point where they can build SI into their processes in a simple and repeatable manner.
To achieve this, NDG aims to develop a shared infrastructure that provides an economic and effective mean to integrate SI from a variety of sources, and in various formats, to support commonly required query, analytical and modelling tasks. This will be based on a set of standard grids and projections to support new and existing business activities. The goal is for production systems based on NDG across Australia to be developed as an integral part of the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure, providing easy access to current and authoritative grid cell-based data.
What is the NDG Demonstrator Project About?
To promote the National Data Grid ideal to key users and stakeholders in Australia, the CRCSI has funded development of NDG as a Demonstrator. The purpose is to develop typical functions of NDG and showcase to interested parties the core technical components and user interactions experience that exemplify the full NDG Production system. The NDG Demonstrator Project aims to form the reasoning for the larger scale development of NDG through an evaluation strategy involving a number of business processes sponsored by key project participants, particularly Geoscience Australia, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Victorian Department of Justice and Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
The NDG Demonstrator Project will deliver an improved demonstrator application that builds on the earlier (PEMS project) technical functions and architecture and will support operational users in nominated business processes.
The project also involves an investigation into scalability issues. Further information on this component of the NDG Demonstrator Project known as the NDG Raster Storage Archive, including access to the exemplar application, can be found at:
http://rsademo.vpac.org:8080/NdgDemonstrator/rsa/rsa.html#page0
Another key output of the NDG Demonstrator project has been the development and adoption of standard grid systems, known as the National Nested Grid, that form the basis of the repositories that hold all grid cell data values. In addition to reducing processing efforts, this adoption of standards, including the adoption of standard algorithms and parameters in translating data values from one grid cell resolution to another, help reduce errors and disparities in the one data theme.
The National Nested Grid also includes adoption of a ‘smart’ indexing system, or grid cell identifier which further assists in this regards. Information concerning a ‘smart’ grid cell identifier developed as part of the NDG project can be obtained from the NDG Team Leader – see contact details below.
What’s happened so far?
The NDG Demonstrator Application and Raster Storage Archive are currently operational. The outcomes of the evaluation and trial of the NDG Project will be completed by June 2011.
Further Information
For further information please contact:
Stephen Farrell Phone: +61 (0)3 9691 3000 Sudarshan Ramachandran |
Dr Tai On (T.O.) Chan Phone: +61 (0)3 8636 2682 |
CRC for Spatial Information
This project is being conducted within the CRC for Spatial Information, established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Programme.
Contact details:
CRC for Spatial Information
Department of Sustainability and Environment
PO Box 500
East Melbourne, VIC 3002
Australia
Project Participants
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