FAQ / Acronyms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ECHO?

The EOS ClearingHouse (ECHO) is a metadata clearinghouse and order broker being built by NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). ECHO is an operational open system based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Web Service technologies. ECHO is composed of many layers that can interface with different clients and users through its series of Application Program Interfaces (APIs). The ECHO Team works closely with Data and Client Partners to enable the science community to exchange data, information and services.

Why use ECHO?

The multi-organizational content of ECHO provides a valuable new service to a growing number of Earth science applications and interdisciplinary research efforts. ECHO streamlines access to digital data and materials and brokers orders and other services from Clients to Data Partners. ECHO provides tracking services for both the Provider and the Client.

What is metadata?

Metadata consist of information that characterizes data. Metadata are used to provide documentation for data products. In essence, metadata answer who, what, when, where, why, and how about every facet of the data that are being documented.

Acronyms

ACL - Access Control List API - Application Programming Interface AQL - Alternative Query Language ASF DAAC - Alaska Satellite Facility ASTER - Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (formerly ITIR) BMGT - Bulk Metadata Generation Tool CCB - Configuration Control Board COTS - Commercial Off The Shelf DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center DB - DataBase DIAL - Data and Information Access Link DTD - Document Type Definition ECHO - EOS Clearinghouse ECS - EOSDIS Core System EDG - EOS Data Gateway EJB - Enterprise JAVA Beans EMD - EOSDIS Maintenance and Development EOP - ECHO Operations Plan EOS - Earth Observing System EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System EROS - Earth Resources Observation Systems ESDIS - Earth Science Data and Information System ESE - Earth Science Enterprise ESIP - Earth Science Information Partner ETC - ECHO Technical Committee FTP - File Transfer Protocol GCMD - Global Change Master Directory GES DAAC - GSFC Earth Sciences DAAC GHRC - Global Hydrology Resource Center GIS - Geographic Information System GML - Geography Markup Language GMT - Greenwich Mean Time GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center GUI - Graphical User Interface IIMS - Independent Information Management Subsystem J2EE - Java 2 Enterprise Edition LAADS - Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System LaRC DAAC - Langley Research Center DAAC LP DAAC - Land Processes DAAC MISR - Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NSIDC DAAC - National Snow and Ice Data Center DAAC ODL - Object Description Language OGC - OpenGIS Consortium ORNL DAAC - Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC PO.DAAC - Physical Oceanography DAAC PSA - Product Specific Attribute PUMP - Provider User Management Program QA - Quality Assurance SAR - Synthetic Aperture Radar SEDAC - Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center SOAP - Simple Object Access Protocol SSC - Stennis Space Center SSL - Secure Sockets Layer QA - Quality Assurance UDDI - Universal Description, Discovery and Integration UI - User Interface UR - Universal Reference URL - Uniform Resource Locator UTC - Universal Time, Coordinated WIST - Warehouse Inventory Search Tool WRS - Worldwide Reference System WSDL - Web Services Description Language XML - eXtensible Markup Language XSLT - eXtensible Style Language Transformation