With an ever-increasing amount of available data, it has become paramount for users to quickly locate and access data as well as manipulate and transform it.  Due to NSIDC’s wide range of data types, many specific individual tools were developed over time.  Thus, NSIDC is working to evolve these individual tools into a more cohesive suite that gives users additional capabilities to synergistically blend disparate data types. Some initiatives that are underway or being planned include:

• GUI Interfaces: The DAAC currently offers several data access methods for its range of data.  We are studying options that will improve user productivity and reduce the number of individual steps that must be taken to use our data effectively.  Our focus is on interfaces that quickly and accurately define geographic regions, subsetting options, and transformations that make it easy to use blended data in imaginative ways.
  
  
• Geospatial Methods: The DAAC has developed expertise in a broad range of methods, techniques, and software critical for manipulating data that is generally applicable to the satellite remote sensing community.  A comprehensive suite of tools were developed for use with both global and polar data, and some of these tools were adopted for use by the greater community.  We also provide assistance to users needing guidance in the proper selection and use of tools for interpolating, mapping, regridding, and spatial searching.