Database: The Antarctic Master Directory (AMD)
Link: http://www.usap-data.org/
IPY Benefit: Facilitate international collaboration by making it easier to find US data and submit records.
Abstract:
The AMD is a database of metadata records for research projects supported by the US Antarctic Program. Submission to it is mandatory for all NSF/OPP/ANT projects. The AMD uses NASA’s Global Climate Change Master Directory (GCMD) to house the records; but unfortunately the GCMD’s input and search capabilities are not user friendly for Antarctic work. Under this award, the Lamont group is developing a new portal that includes a map interface to find records. In terms of intellectual merit, this approach facilitates researchers in getting access to data from Antarctica. As well, the site serves as a hub to encourage data submission to community databases, by listing the databases and incorporating the data links in the metadata file (http://www.usap-data.org/contribute_data.php). In addition, the map interface should make it easier for both scientists and the general public to find out about USAP research. Also, the AMD is used many other countries doing Antarctic research. The new portal will facilitate international collaboration.
Data center: The Antarctic Marine Bathymetry Synthesis (AMBS)
Link: http://www.marine-geo.org/antarctic/
IPY Benefit: Facilitate international collaboration by making it easier to find and use US data. Center would be open to submissions from other countries.
Abstract:
The AMBS is a web-accessible database for marine data for the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. While its primary focus is compilation of multibeam bathymetry maps collected by the US Antarctic Program’s research ship, the R/V Palmer, the center also archives all of the underway data collected by Palmer and the Gould. The data are useful to a variety of Antarctic research activities and represent an important legacy of exploration. Maps are released in various user-friendly formats, but for research use a special browser, GeoMapApp, has also been developed to visually explore the dataset, generate custom maps, and correlate map data with geophysical datasets.
Data facilitator: The Antarctic Geospatial Information Center (AGIC)
Link: http://www.agic.umn.edu/
IPY Benefit: Will make key geospatial information much easier to acess. Already collaborating with other data centers, such as Gateway Antarctica in NZ. Center would be open to working with other countries.
Abstract:
AGIC’s goal is to foster collaboration and reduce the barrier to entry for scientists in using geospatial information. The center acquires, develops, and serves new and existing geospatial information that ranges from satellite images to air photos to digital elevation models, and produces custom maps on request to meet the needs of researchers, logisticians, and educators. The center also serve as a long-term archive of unique geospatial products, and makes complex datasets easier to access for users. For example, the new landsat mosaic is difficult to download from the USGS site, so AGIC made some simple jpegs.
Database: The Landsat Image Map of Antarctica (LIMA)
Link: http://lima.usgs.gov/
IPY Benefit: Truly meets the spirit of IPY by offering a new base map and snapshot of Antarctica. Useful to research, education and outreach for all nations. Freely available, even the base data. Represents a US-UK collaboration. Perhaps the first brand new collaboration for IPY with direct outcomes.
Abstract:
Landsat data is a fantastic resource, but was little used by researchers because of the difficulties in access and use. A community workshop on geospatial needs recommended development of a new Antarctic base map based on Landsat to facilitate access. In a few months this project morphed into a NSF, USGS, NASA and British Antarctic Survey collaboration. The completed map is now available, and represents one of the first major outcomes of the IPY.
Physical and online archive: US Antarctic Resource Center
Link: http://usarc.usgs.gov/
Abstract:
The USGS supports various mapping, geodetic, aerial photography, data curation and other work for the US Antarctic Program. The significant activity areas at present are support for the 1) US Antarctic Resource Center, a physical and online repository of Antarctic data such as maps, aerial photography, and other printed information; 2) Support for the International Marine Seismic Data Library, as mandated by the Antarctic Treaty; and 3) support for the US Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names.
