Re: Carl Dierking - license requirements

> Organization: NWS, Juneau, Alaska
> Keywords: 199408172256.AA22803

Hi Jan,

Please forward this message to Carl Dierking.  Thanks.

Carl,

The freely-available decoders that we know about that produce netCDF files
include 

  gribtonc
         a CRIB-to-netCDF decoder written in C that serves as an example
         in-line decoder for our LDM (Local Data Management) system,
         available from ftp://ftp.unidata.ucar.edu/pub/ldm4/decoders.tar.Z

  NIDS decoder
        from the University of Washington, this currently handles only
        NEXRAD composite reflectivity data.

  Zeb decoders
        part of the Zeb package, a system for data ingest, storage,
        integration and display, designed to operate in both real time and
        postprocessing modes.  For more information, see the URL
        http://www.atd.ucar.edu/rdp/zeb.html.

There are other decoders freely available via anonymous FTP from various
sources that decode data into another form than netCDF.  For example:

  NMC's universal BUFR decoder
        available via anonymous FTP from
        ftp://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/pub/nws/nmc/codes/bufr/

  ECMWF BUFR codes
        from ftp://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/pub/nws/nmc/development/ecmwf

  a GRIB decoder for Suns from NMC
        ftp://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/pub/info/gribsun

  decoders for the WAFS GRIB products
        ftp://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/pub/nws/nmc/codes/grib.wafs

Many other decoders are available to licensed university sites.  These are
part of various Unidata-distributed packages that are developed elsewhere,
such as McIDAS, WXP, and GEMPAK.  The WXP decoders can output netCDF files.
For information on obtaining a WXP or other license, you need to contact
address@hidden.  For information on how to apply for associate
participation in Unidata, contact Linda Miller, address@hidden.

I've appended a draft of the current Unidata Policy on participation by
non-university organizations.

Please let me know if you need further information.

--
Russ Rew                                                   UCAR Unidata Program
address@hidden                                             P.O. Box 3000
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/                             Boulder, CO 80307-3000


                                         Policy on Unidata Participation
                                                       29 January 1993
Subject to Review and Change!

        Unidata was created to support instruction and research in the
U.S. academic community as represented by traditional university
departments (hence the name UNIversity DATA system). However,
Unidata's primary constituency can benefit from Unidata participation
by certain other organizations that do not fit the traditional notion of
a university, where a primary purpose is to grant degrees.
On this basis, three categories of organizations are identified for the
purpose of defining their potential relationships with Unidata:

I.      Core institutions (namely, U.S. universities and departments thereof
        engaged in traditional teaching/research activities)

II.     Institutions where synergy with the core is likely (such as
        government labs, non-US universities, and high schools, chosen
        selectively)

III.    All others
        Note that organizations having administrative relationships with
        U.S. universities do not, a-priori, fall into categories I or II.
        If such organizations are not academic departments, in the
        traditional sense, then the likelihood of synergy becomes the
        determining factor.

        The levels of participation and influence in Unidata for the three
categories are roughly as follows.

I.      Core institutions:
         1.  The needs of this group always receive top priority in
             respect to Unidata service policies, resource allocations,
             and planning
         2.  Majority representation on Unidata's governing and advisory
             committees
         3.  May receive data delivery on a Unidata-subsidized basis
         4.  Entitled to all software donated to Unidata
         5.  Membership exclusive and automatic for traditional departments
             in U.S. universities, where a primary function is to grant
             degrees

II.     Institutions where synergy with Unidata is likely:
         1.  Membership conditional on anticipated benefit to Unidata
             and its core members, as determined by the Policy Committee,
             NSF and UCAR
         2.  May be required to contribute to the overall Unidata effort
         3.  May be constrained in respect to receiving data delivery
              on a Unidata-subsidized basis
         4.  Access to donated software determined solely by the donors
         5.  Welcome to participate in Unidata training workshops on a
              space-available basis

III.    All others:
         1. Generally will be directed to commercial providers for support
         2. Data and delivery are not subsidized
         3. Not entitled to anything