Not necessarily integrated into the browser, but webstart IDV is a single
URL accessible solution based on Java that should be easy to use alongside
the browser.
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/webstart/IDV/idv.jnlp
--
Dallas Masters
On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 1:18 PM, Charlie Zender <zender@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, none seem to satisfy
> my immediate needs for this class. I'll explain the use-case
> a bit more so that some of you web-savvy developers can see the
> open niche. Then I'll respond one-by-one to all suggestions.
>
> The classroom situation is this: Informal grad climatology class.
> Students all have laptops or tablets with browsers and good internet
> connection. During class instructor wants to show, e.g., global
> temperature or OLR from a netCDF dataset. (And, ideally, analyze it a
> little. Zonal averages etc. But such analysis is not necessary.)
> I would like students to become comfortable doing this themselves,
> not to load them down with software instructions for multiple OSs.
> Hence, a browser-based solution is called for. Everyone has a browser
> that can see/download the datasets we visit (datasets are all visible
> via direct HTTP or DAP/TDS). Could restrict this to either direct HTTP
> or DAP/TDS if necessary. I want something like Panoply/ncView/IDV
> except that it works through a browser so no one needs to install
> anything except possibly a browser extension. We cannot bog-down the
> class with programming, scripting, or server maintenance.
>
> We can assume they have the Chrome browser if necessary (because it's
> free and robust on all major platforms). But I have no control over
> the data servers nor any wish involve the students or me in software
> installation (besides possibly Chrome) or programming. Students should
> only need to know the location of the datasets, and possibly the URL
> of the service. I want to focus class on the data, not the software.
> Only point and click required. No Java/Python/R/scripting required.
>
> If you have a suggestion, please include the publicly accessible URL
> or browser extension that will plot publicly visible netCDF files.
>
> Thanks!
> c
>
> Le 25/09/2013 04:48, Signell, Richard a écrit :> A few ideas:
> >
> > The remote NetCDF files could be served using the THREDDS data server
> > (with WMS enabled), allowing graphical viewing in the browser using
> > the godiva2 WMS client
> >
> > The remote NetCDF files could be served using ERDDAP, allowing
> > graphical viewing in the browser using the ERDDAP graphing interface.
> >
> > You could access and display the remote NetCDF files using Wakari
> > (Ipython notebook running on the cloud), which runs in the browser.
>
> We don't have control over the data servers.
> I only know the URLs of the datasets we wish to view.
>
> > Le 25/09/2013 05:12, Lynnes, Christopher S. (GSFC-6102) a écrit :
> > These ideas may be too complicated to implement in a short time
> > frame, but...
> >
> > (0) In Giovanni, we serialize the netCDF to JSON for certain kinds
> > of plots (scatterplots, time-series), then use JS packages like
> > HighCharts to visualize. It still takes a bit of code though, and I
> > doubt ours would be instantly reusable in your setting. :-(
> >
> > (1) Some folks have put together a a recipe for running IDV in
> > "headless" mode on the server...
>
> Chris-- A couple of people mentioned IDV might work for this.
> I need a URL of a working solution to point the class to.
>
> > (2) For data that can be mapped, you can use the THREDDS Data Server
> > to visualize via WMS, yes? Or failing that, stand up a MapServer
> > pointing to the OPeNDAP data (need not be on the same machine). I
> > think you can use a Google Earth plugin for the browser to make this
> > work on the client side.
>
> The Google Earth plugin would be a fine environment.
> Don't know how to get it to plot, e.g., color contours of global
> temperature from a publicly accessible netCDF dataset...
>
> > (Bright side is, I think you may have stumbled on a pretty cool
> > proposal idea. Oops, did I say that out loud?)
>
> You're typing out loud again. Anyone listening?
>
> Le 25/09/2013 06:45, Roy Mendelssohn - NOAA Federal a écrit :>
> > If I understood correctly not all of the files are are served by
> > THREDDS or OPeNDAP, so just installing them someone else won't solve
> > the problem if I understand correctly (so this also rules out your
> > installing ERDDAP or LAS on a server somewhere and using them - if I
> > get the problem correctly - ERDDAP also will not visualize irregular
> > grids).. Rich already mentioned Wakari if you know or want to learn
> > Python. Another option, if if you have the use of a Linux server
> > somewhere, is to put RStudio Server on a linux box, and then the
> > RStudio Interface is accessible through a browser. the ncdf4
> > package is wonderful for accessing netcdf and opendap files, but
> > graphics in R can have a steep learning curve. The RStudio
> > interface is very nice however.
>
> Hi Roy---For this class, no programming or fiddling with servers.
>
> >Le 25/09/2013 06:48, H. Joe Lee a écrit :>
> > Hi, Charlie!
> >
> > Does the following URL [1] work on your Chromebook showing Google
> > Earth?
>
> Yes
>
> > If so, I think you (or your students) can write some JavaScript that
> >
> > 1) requests lat/lon/data from THREDDS/OPeNDAP in ASCII with
> > constraint expression
> > 2) parse it and build KML using polygon drawing or place marker
> > 3) run the code from [1]
> >
> > I've played the above idea a little bit last night after seeing your
> > message with my Chrome but I could not confirm it with
> > Chromebook/ChromeOS.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > [1] https://code.google.com/apis/ajax/playground/?exp=earth#parse_kml
>
> Students cannot be assumed to know programming/scripting.
>
> > Le 25/09/2013 07:02, Signell, Richard a écrit :> Charlie,
> >
> > For clarification, are these remote NetCDF files that you want to
> > visualize accessible via OPeNDAP or just HTTP?
> > If just HTTP, do you need the web client to be able to subset them
> > using byte-range requests like netCDF-Java does
> > (like this:
> >
>
> http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/thredds/current/netcdf-java/reference/HTTPservice.html
> )
>
> > ?
> >
> > -RIch
>
> Hi Rich--Although I would like to be able to visit both HTTP and
> OPeNDAP-accessible files, I could restrict my ambitions to one
> or the other if necessary. Yes, geographic hyperslabbing would be
> helpful, but not required. The URL you supplied describes a process
> that requires modifying the web servers. No can do. A browser plugin
> that knew what to do with ".nc" files (downloaded locallly via HTTP,
> or remotely accessed via DAP) would satisfy the problem.
>
> Le 25/09/2013 07:32, Tyle, Kevin R a écrit :
> > If you can connect to a RAMADDA server that is properly configured
> > to run off an X server, you can display NetCDF grid files via an
> > embedded IDV interface.
>
> Hi Kevin--IDV would be a fine environment. What is URL to such a
> server that is publicly accessible (and will work for my class)?
>
>
> --
> Charlie Zender, Earth System Sci. & Computer Sci.
> University of California, Irvine 949-891-2429 )'(
>
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