A library of datasets

updated May 2004

The IRI Data Library is a library of datasets. By library we mean a collection of things, collected from both near and far, designed to make them more accessible for the library's users. Our datasets come from many different sources, many different "data cultures", many different formats. By dataset we mean a collection of data organized as multidimensional dependent variables, independent variables, and sub-datasets, along with the metadata (particularly use-metadata) that makes it possible to interpret the data in a meaningful manner.

Ingrid, which provides the infrastructure for the Data Library, is an environment that lets one work with datasets: read, write, request, serve, view, select, calculate, transform, ... . It hides an extraordinary amount of technical detail from the user, letting the user think in terms of the dataset manipulations that need to be done. Among other things, this hidden technical detail could be accessing data on servers, or doing only the small needed portion of an enormous calculation.

Overview	-	the organization of the data
User Interface	-	the interface created automatically from the structure of the dataset collection.
Sample Datasets	-	examples of more sophisticated datasets and how they are represented/manipulated.
Sample Calculations	-	examples of dataset-based calculations.
Work-In-Progress	-	work merging GIS and database data models into this system.

Note: both the links above and the links on the left hand menu let one go from page to page. The links on the left-hand menu will continue to appear on subsequent pages.