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Project Leader	Prof. Liping DI School of Computational Sciences George Mason University 4400 University Drive MSN 5C3, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 USA Tel: +1-301-794-3104 Fax: +1-301-794-3165 Email: lpd@rattler.gsfc.nasa.gov
Funding	US $46,700
Participating countries	India, Indonesia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

Introduction/Background
DIAL is a web-based data and information system that enables scientists and small data producers in Earth science to format, document, and distribute data through their desktop computers. The system allows data users, by using common Web browsers, to interactively search and select data in DIAL sites, manipulate and visualise the selected data, and download selected data in their favourite forms in terms of spatial and temporal coverage and resolution, parameters, and data formats. Multiple DIAL sites can form a network of data providers through DIALs interoperability protocols. While maintaining the independence of individual DIAL sites, a network of DIAL nodes can provide a unified information space, which would enable data users to search and access data in all sites in the network by querying just one of them. DIAL was developed by a team led by the PI of this APN project with more than $2.5 million of funding from NASA. Currently more than 2,000 copies of DIAL software system have been distributed to scientists and data producers around the world.

The objective of this APN project is to build sustainable data and information system (DIS) capacities and activities in the Asia-Pacific region for supporting key global change studies in individual countries and across the region by using the DIAL system. The activities include 1) establishing a DIAL-based network of interoperable data and information systems in the Asia-Pacific region; 2) training staff in the collaborating institutes on data and information management; and 3) providing user support on DIAL system and data preparation.

Outline of activities conducted
Due to the change of affiliation of the PI and the contractual change with NASA, the contract for performing this project was in place in January 2001, about six months later than originally planned. Subsequently, we were only able to start this project in January.

So far, we have performed the proposed work for India. Two members of the DIAL development team were sent to India to conduct the DIAL installation and training. The first training session was held in conjunction with the International Conference on Remote Sensing and GIS/GPS (ICORG) meeting at Hyderabad, India, held on 2-6 February. The venue was chosen due to the large number of professionals in remote sensing, GIS and GPS from government agencies (ISRO, SAC, NRSA), universities and industry participating in the conference. The conference was part of International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) organisation and over 300 people attended the conference. 50 copies of DIAL software were distributed to the conference participants and a keynote presentation about DIAL was given at the conference.

Because of the large interest shown by people, several small groups of people were shown DIAL installation procedures and demonstrations during the conference. They were from Jawarharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Kuvempu University, Space Applications Research Center, Indian Space Research Organisation, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Indian Institute of Technology (Guwahati), Geological Survey of India, State Remote Sensing agencies from Uttar Pradesh, Andra Pradesh, and Maharastra.

25 people attended a training session from various organisations on 6 February 2001. Four hours of training and demonstration was given to participants. A DIAL presentation and HDF and HDF-EOS presentation was given first. This was followed by installation, hands on training and demonstration of the software. Both DIAL and EDG were discussed during the presentation. Participants were shown how to set up a distributed DIAL system. A list of participants and their affiliations are available upon request.

DIAL system was also installed on one of the JNTU computers. Dr. I.V. Muralikrishna has agreed to participate in APN activities and will set up the V0/EDG part of the system once computing resources are acquired in the next 4-6 weeks. Then the JNTU site will be visible on the network. He will be the key person and will organise several DIAL sites within Indian universities and other institutions.

We will conduct another DIAL training session and install a DIAL site at Bangalore University during the second week of February.

Outcomes/Products

• A group of local scientists trained in data and information management for global change studies as well as DIAL system;
• Multiple interoperable DIAL sites providing data and information for global change studies; and
• An APN DIAL network linking DIAL sites in APN countries.