GADB: A database facility for modelling naturally occurring geophysical fields

Abstract

In certain kinds of geophysical surveys, the fields are continua, but measured at discrete points referenced by their position or time of measurement. Systems of this kind are better modelled by databases built from basic data structures attuned to representing traverses across continua that are not of pre-defined fixed length. The general Array DataBase is built on arrays (ordered sequencies of data) with each array holding data elements of one type. The arrays each occupy their own physical data set, in turn inter-related by a hierarchy to other arrays over the same space/time reference points. The GADB illustrates the principle that a data facility should reflect the fundamental properties of its data, and support retrieval based on the application's view. The GADB is being tested by its use in NASA's project MAGSAT.