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McIDAS: Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS)

1973

The Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) was originally developed to visualize Applications Technology Satellite image data for measuring cloud motions. The hardware and software developed by SSEC researchers in the early 1970s was the culmination of years of work to achieve easy access to satellite data in the time domain, the dimension which opens up the Earth’s atmosphere to observation as a dynamic system rather than a qualitative still photograph. This was a first in the atmospheric science community. With the completion of a breadboard model of the McIDAS TV display hardware, there existed a functioning prototype system which demonstrated the capability to economically process ATS/SMS satellite image data to obtain cloud motion data in a real time research environment. Researchers quickly found that other science programs at SSEC and the general public would also be able to benefit from the system.

From: McIDAS: An Interim Report on the Development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System, SSEC No.72.11.M3

Investigators

Related Websites

Publications

  • Benson, John, Chatters, Gary, Daly, Richard, and Phillips, Dennis. McIDAS software documentation system data structures. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1977. Various paging. UW SSEC Publication. McIDAS manual.

  • Chatters, Gary C. and Kuhlow, W. W. User manual and programmer reference manual for the ATS-6 navigation model A01PS and McIDAS versions: Part II of final report for period ending 31 December 1977, Contract number NAS5-20974 for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1977. Various paging. UW SSEC Publication No.77.12.C1.

  • Chatters, Gary C. and Suomi, V. E. The applications of McIDAS. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience Electronics v.GE-13, no.3, 1975, pp137-146. Reprint #23.

  • GISS/SSEC McIDAS data study (Final technical report on NGR50-002-215 for the period 1 March 1973 to 31 May 1976). Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1976. Various paging. UW SSEC Publication No.76.06.G1.

  • Haig, Thomas. The McIDAS system. Interactive video displays for atmospheric studies (Proceedings of a workshop at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, 14-16 June 1977). Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1977, pp171-178. UW SSEC Publication No.77.08.11.

  • Krauss, Robert. Application of McIDAS to other data handling areas. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 72, pp16-21. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Krauss, Robert. Basic principles of McIDAS. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 72, pp1-5. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Krauss, Robert. Functional elements of McIDAS. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 72, pp6-9. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Krauss, Robert. Use of the McIDAS display system for cloud motion field data. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 72, pp10-15. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Krauss, Robert J. McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1972. iv, 39 leaves. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Kuhlow, William. The application of McIDAS to remote sensing needs (phase I): Final progress report to the National Science Foundation, Research Application to National Needs (RANN Division). Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Environmental Studies, Environmental Monitoring and Data Acquistion Group, 1974. 15p. QH/541.15/R4/K84/1974.

  • Lazzara, Matthew A.; Benson, John M.; Fox, Robert J.; Laitsch, Denise J.; Rueden, Joseph P.; Santek, David A.; Wade, Delores M.; Whittaker, Thomas M., and Young, J.T. The Man computer Interactive Data Access System: 25 years of interactive processing. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society v.80, no.2, February 1999, pp271-284. Repring # 2548.

  • McIDAS users manual. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1981. various paging. UW SSEC Publication. McIDAS manual.

  • McIDAS: Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. In Workshop on the Application of Satellite Data to the Oceanographic Sciences, [Madison, WI], 14-15 October 1980. Proceedings. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1980, pp81-99. UW SSEC Publication No.81.00.W1.

  • Schwalenberg, Terry. McIDAS TV display. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1972, pp31-39. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Sechrist, Frank. McIDAS as artist and teacher. Interactive video displays for atmospheric studies (Proceedings of a workshop at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, 14-16 June 1977). Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1977, pp26-29. UW SSEC Publication No.77.08.11.

  • Smith, Eric A. The McIDAS system. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience Electronics v.GE-13, no.3, 1975, pp123-136. Reprint #105.

  • Smith, Eric and Phillips, Dennis. Recent software investigations for McIDAS cloud displacement measurements. In McIDAS: An interim report on the development of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1972, pp22-30. UW SSEC Publication No.72.11.M3.

  • Suomi, Verner E. Man-computer Interactive Data Access System : Continued development of McIDAS and operation in the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment. Final report Contract NAS5-23296 for period August 1973 to December 1974. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1975. Various paging. UW SSEC Publication No.75.03.S2.

  • Suomi, Verner. McIDAS research applications: An historical approach. Interactive video displays for atmospheric studies (Proceedings of a workshop at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, 14-16 June 1977). Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Space Science and Engineering Center, 1977, pp51-55. UW SSEC Publication No.77.08.11.

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