MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF AN OCEANOGRAPIIIC 

 LI VI-; ATLAS 



Robert A. Peloquin, Richard A. Bolton, Walter E. Yergen 

 Naval Oceanographic Office 

 Washington, D. C. 20390 



Anthony R. Picciolo 



National Oceanographic Data Center 



Washington, D. C. 20360 



I . ABSTRACT 



The rate at which oceanographic data are being accumulated has 

 stimulated considerable thought in the improvement of data storage 

 and handling capabilities. The realization of the need for new 

 hardware and computerized techniques to contend with the large data 

 volumes which are anticipated in the future has left its mark. In- 

 house programs at NAVOCEANO and NODC have, for this reason, been 

 oriented toward the attainment of these goals. Specifically, a 

 joint program for the development of a "live atlas" has been initiated, 

 This atlas, as conceived, is a computerized system which consists of 

 efficiently formulated data files, computer software to access these 

 files, and a cathode-ray tube display console which enables its oper- 

 ator to display data summaries, such as contoured horizontal and 

 vertical sections of a data distribution, and manipulate programs 

 for generating summaries and displays through console selectable in- 

 structions in real-time. The compression of oceanographic files to 

 ratios exceeding eight to one are discussed. Details concerning the 

 display speeds are presented. Experimental results of preliminary 

 displays are shown. Specific military applications, such as command 

 and control displays, automated atlas, compilation, and quality con- 

 trol operations for data archival, are discussed, 



II. INTRODUCTION 



A critical look at oceanographic data files, their management and 

 accessibility has been afforded under the live atlas project which 

 has been undertaken jointly by the Research and Development Department 

 of the Naval Oceanographic Office and the National Oceanographic Data 

 Center (NODC). This developmental effort has utilized existing com- 

 puter facilities within the Navy and at the Goddard Space Flight 

 Center. 



The live atlas is a dynamic display capability intended for use 

 in data analysis and/or information retrieval and presentation. It 

 differs from a static display in that it allows the user to interact 



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