The SSABLE system: automated archive, catalog, browse and distribution of satellite data in near-real time

SSABLE is a new interactive tool for the archive, browse, order, and distribution of satellite data based on X Window, high-bandwidth networks, and digital image rendering techniques. SSABLE provides for automatically constructing relational database queries to archived image datasets based on time, data, geographical location, and other selection criteria. SSABLE also provides a visual representation of the selected archived data for viewing on the user´s X terminal. SSABLE is a near-real-time system-for example, data are added to SSABLE´s database within 10 min after capture. SSABLE is network and machine independent, running identically on any machine that has a bit-mapped display (monochrome or greater), is running the X Window system, and is on a network directly reachable by the SSABLE system. SSABLE has been evaluated at over 100 international sites. Network response time in the United States and Canada varies between 4 and 7 s for browse image updates; reported transmission times to Europe and Australia typically are 20-25 s