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Climate Data Analysis Tools (CDAT)
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Climate Data Analysis Tools (CDAT, developed by PCMDI in the US) is a Python-based software infrastructure that is growing in use throughout the UK and beyond, and is a player in both UK and US GRID developments, interfacing with the popular OPeNDAP Data Access Protocol (formerly DODS), NetCDF libraries and the Live Access Server (LAS). CDAT makes use of Python features such as object orientation and easy connectivity to low level languages (such as Fortran, C and C++), to bind a multitude of useful packages and tools to one common scriptable interface.
A variety of user interfaces to CDAT exist including command-line interaction, stand-alone scripts (applications), graphical user interfaces and web-clients. CDAT builds on existing software, such as the large-array numerical operations (Numerical Python) and visualization (Visualization and Control System or VCS) sub-systems, allowing sophisticated data manipulation via the its own Climate Data Management System (CDMS) package. Being freely available, portable to multiple platforms and open-source, CDAT also encourages users to become developers. Whilst in its infancy compared to rival packages (such as IDL), these features reveal the potential for CDAT to grow into a leading edge data management tool.
The two-day course aims to present a look at CDAT from many perspectives, providing participants with an understanding of how to interact with the package via the command-line, scripts or using the GUI.
The course will begin with a look at the Python scripting language and then concentrate on different aspects of CDAT including an introduction to VCDAT (the GUI front-end), reading, writing, manipulating (e.g. averaging and regridding) and visualizing data. Particular packages such as VCS (the visualisation system) and genutil (statistical functions) will be described. The workshop will involve a pleasant mix of taught material and hands-on tutorials/exercises. Reference material will be provided to ensure that participants take their new knowledge home.
This course is aimed at novices and relative newcomers to CDAT. However, regular users may find insight into the many aspects of the software infrastructure available. Some familiarity with the Unix/Linux Operating System and a basic knowledge of programming would be useful but not essential.
The two-day course programme consists of a mixture of taught sessions and hands-on activities to keep everyone lively.
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10.00 - 10.15 |
Introduction |
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Python and CDAT Basics |
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10.15 - 11.00 |
Installation of CDAT |
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11.00 - 11.45 |
Crash-course in Python 1 |
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11.45 - 12.15 |
Coffee/Tea |
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12.15 - 12.45 |
Crash-course in Python 2 |
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12.45 - 13.30 |
VCDAT in a flash |
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13.30 - 14.30 |
Lunch |
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Dealing with Data and VCDAT in Detail |
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14.30 - 15.15 |
Data Ingestion and Array Manipulation |
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15.15 - 16.00 |
VCDAT in detail 1 |
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16.00 - 16.30 |
Coffee/Tea |
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16.30 - 17.15 |
VCDAT in detail 2 |
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17.15 - 18.00 |
VCDAT in detail 3 |
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Manipulating Slabs |
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9.00 - 9.45 |
Slabs, Axes and Missing Values |
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9.45 - 10.30 |
Averaging and Grids |
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Plotting with VCS |
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10.30 - 10.45 |
Plotting via VCDAT |
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10.45 - 11.15 |
Coffee/Tea |
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11.15 - 12.00 |
VCS Basics |
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12.00 - 12.30 |
Templates, 2D and 1D plots. |
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12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
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Some Useful CDAT Packages |
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13.30 - 14.15 |
cdscan and cdtime |
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14.15 - 15.00 |
cdutil and genutil |
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15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee/Tea |
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15.30 - 16.15 |
Advanced Features |
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16.15 - 17.00 |
Conclusion |
The main meetings of the workshop, and lunches, will be held in Pavillion A of the Centre for Mathematical Sciences Cambridge (main entrance shown in photograph below).
Details of the location of the meeting, including travel plans, can be obtained here.
Accommodation is being provided in Fitzwilliam College Cambridge. The conference dinner on the evening of 16th December, to which all delegates are invited, will also be held in Fitzwilliam College.
It is anticipated that the workshop may generate interest in some follow-on activities. We will discuss the sort of follow-on activities that can be arranged, such as visits to NIEeS to demonstrate some of the escience/grid technologies and to provide help with installation and usage.
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There is no registration charge. Accommodation in Fitzwilliam College and meals (including the conference dinner) for UK academic participants will be provided with no charge. . The NIEeS will refund travel expenses Please book early to ensure that you are able to obtain a place.
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