The CIESIN Gateway

Marc B. Manza
David Rubin
5 Metrotech Center
CIESIN/Polytechnic University
Brooklyn, NY

718-260-3230
FAX: 718-260-3930
manza@grimmy.poly.edu
drubin@forte.poly.edu

An overwhelming amount of data and information exists in various
incompatible formats and on various systems throughout the world. The
key to its value, however, is closely linked to who knows about it and
who uses it. Searching for, locating, and retrieving needed data and
information is becoming increasingly difficult. CIESIN Gateway uses
state-of-the-art software technology to make finding out about and
accessing data and information considerably easier.

CIESIN Gateway provides an intuitive interface for integrated
information searching, viewing, browsing, and ordering. The system
makes it possible to search for and retrieve data and metadata from a
"virtual archive" of distributed, heterogeneous resources. CIESIN
Gateway accesses data and information stored on many different servers
in a parallel fashion, allowing the user to efficiently explore vast
amounts of distributed resources. The mechanics of the system and
variations in data formats are hidden, allowing CIESIN Gateway to
behave as if it were a single information resource, providing a
consistent, understandable product to the user.

CIESIN Gateway was recently awarded a 1995 Computerworld Smithsonian
Award, honoring its innovative use of information technology. The
system received top honors in the field of Environment, Energy, and
Agriculture.

In an effort to evolve the Gateway, we embarked upon a prototype
designed to provide a multi-functional, seamless environment from
within which the user can easily explore heterogeneous resources
including, but not limited to, the World Wide Web. The prototype is
built upon a multi-layer application framework -- called RAVEN -- which
provides the building blocks to construct distributed network
applications using object-oriented modules. The RAVEN approach views
the World Wide Web, and web browsing in general, as a tool that should
be utilized where it is most effective.  By merging various information
technologies into a robust application framework, a powerful
exploration environment can be provided to the user.

This CIESIN Gateway demonstration will include the current generation
of Gateway clients, as well as a prototype for a future client based
on the RAVEN framework.