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Research Vessel METEOR:
Integrated Online Data Management |
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High-quality measurement data are continuously collected during the scientific
expeditions conducted by the research vessel METEOR all through the year.
The equipment permanently installed on the vessel delivers routine data.
In addition to these data, specific data records by individual scientific user
groups are placed available. To organize these data, to archive them and to
make them available for a further efficient use on board and for evaluations later on is one of the most prominent tasks of the on-board computer system.
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| The goal of the project described here was to fundamentally improve the situation of the computer system on board the METEOR, to modernize hardware and software systems and to update them to the latest state of the art and, in some cases, to add new elements.
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| Network Organization |
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| The most important basic structure to be planned was a network organization of a
larger number of decentralized units, with each individual unit taking on important
functions and placing the results available in the network. Hardware and software of these
units were to be coordinated in such way that central functions like vessel control and
the collection, archiving and distribution of sensor data smoothly work with
the scientific computer systems and visual display units without any problems. It was of
special importance that the acquired sensor data are displayed online in
graphic form on the scientists' workstations. But also the bridge was to be
equipped with display PCs to enable a use of specific sensor data for navigation purposes.
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| Heterogeneous Use |
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| A high degree of special flexibility and variety was required in the combination of
systems due to the user community's heterogeneity (e.g. biology, geology, geophysics,
geodesy, meteorology, oceanography) in order to enable an efficient working onboard.
It should be possible not only to import and process the data of the permanently
installed sensor equipment but also the data of the metrology equipment
individual users bring with them and install temporarily for specific journeys.
User-specific views were to be made possible in a simple way, for instance by configuration. Local workstations were to be available just like larger systems for evaluation tasks. The server system was to run under the operating system UNIX, the workstations with the graphic displays under Windows NT. Moreover, a simple way should be provided to integrate additional computers of the user groups into the system and into the network. |
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| Data Management based on a Database System
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| The new system was to enable a modern working environment that supports an
optimum use of vessel data, individual access by the users and prompt decision
making for the specification of sampling stations and measurement profiles.
Therefore, the data were to be kept in a database system. In addition, it should be possible
for the users to install this database system on their own systems at home to be able
to evaluate the collected data at a later date after the journey. In September/October
1997, during a short time in the dockyard of Bremerhaven, the METEOR got a new data
management system.
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| Further Information |
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For more information about the Research Vessel METEOR visit:
www.rf-bremen.de
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Network Organization;)