IMPLEMENTATION OF GEODATABASE FOR NEAR REAL-TIME COASTAL DATA

Presently many organizations’ data management needs require that they access real-time or near real-time data from different sources and display that data not only in a tabular format but also on a map. Those requirements have added additional complexity to the design and implementation of databases. This paper presents one methodology for implementing a geodatabase of near real-time coastal data. The paper does not address the process of in-situ data collection or details about the display of the data. It focuses on the steps required to transfer the data from its source and create a spatially enabled database or geodatabase. First a brief overview of the technologies involved in the process will be provided. They include Linux, Oracle, ArcSDE, and custom gateways. Then the steps to access the data from its original source, transform it to a more suitable format and load it into the geodatabase will be explained in detail. This process is currently being used at the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) to provide the data for the Coastal Ocean Observing System website (http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/COOS.