[esip-semanticweb] some ToolMatch info for inferring rules

[Lynnes, Christopher S. (GSFC-6102)]

Here are some examples from my own investigations.  So far, it seems like there are always exceptions to the rule, usually where someone has used an unusual grid (MISR's SOM grid), or sometimes due to bugs like the OMAEROe/OPeNDAP exception.  That exception may be fixed in the future, if/when the bug fix comes out and is then deployed to the OPeNDAP server.

Panoply can draw maps of:
*  netCDF gridded data that follows CF-conventions for coordinates
** note that some HDF-EOS2 Level 3 data can be converted to netCDF/CF (this is dataset by dataset)

* netCDF swath data represented as a grid with CF-compliant coordinates
** e.g., AIRS Level 2 Standard Retrievals, converted to netCDF

* HDF-EOS5 Level 3 gridded data

* Most HDF-EOS2 Level 3 (gridded) data that is offered through OPeNDAP
** Exceptions: ?

* Most HDF-EOS5 Level 3 (gridded) data that is offered through OPeNDAP
** Exceptions:  OMAEROe (Aura OMI Aerosol Global Gridded (0.25 deg Lat/Lon grids)). Oddly, Panoply CAN draw a map of the same data product in its HDF-EOS5 form.

* Some HDF-EOS2 Level 2 (swath) data
** Yes: MODIS Level 2 Aerosols (MOD04_L2)
** No: MISR Level 2 Aerosols (MIL2ASAE)

* Some HDF-EOS2 Level 2 (swath) data offered through OPeNDAP
** Yes:  AIRS Level 2 Standard Retrievals (AIRX2RET)
** No: MISR Level 2 Aerosols (MIL2ASAE) - due to SOM grid, I think

The use case is, for a given choice of dataset, should Panoply show up on the list of tools that are known to work with it?

Bottom line is that I think we can use inference from various properties of the dataset (format, data structure, convention compliance, access protocol) to say whether something is *likely* to be usable by a given tool, but due to tool/library bugs, missteps in data product and just unusual edge cases, the only way to know for sure is to try the tool with that dataset and assert the relationship.  

Is there a way we could distinguish between inferred usability and asserted usability?
--
Dr. Christopher Lynnes     NASA/GSFC, Code 610.2    phone: 301-614-5185