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OpenCDMS Project name #30

Open isedwards opened 3 years ago

isedwards commented 3 years ago

In December 2018, the WMO Climate Data Management Systems (CDMS) Strategy meeting:

"suggested not to change the name CDMS and to explain in all communications that the phrase ‘climate’ is inclusive of hydrological, marine and other environmental data with a time-series component"

We have attempted to follow this suggestion, but it fails because environmental data is not a subset of climate data (even given the broadest possible definition of climate). The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that most people's definition of 'climate' is limited to "the long-term average of weather".

We cannot simply change the name to OpenEDMS because: a) An Open Environmental Data Management System already exists (www.openedms.com) b) We have had an Executive Council resolution approved saying that we are going to "develop a reference implementation of a CDMS called OpenCDMS"

Given the constraints above, the suggestions so far are:

  1. Persist with the current approach and continue to insist 'environmental data' is a subset of 'climate data'
  2. Adopt a description of the project that does not focus exclusively on 'climate', e.g.

    OpenCDMS - Comprehensive Data Management System for earth system data with a time-series component.

  3. Keep the current meaning of the acronym, but include information about its potential compatibility with other data types within the description

    OpenCDMS - Climate Data Management System (also compatible with hydrological, marine and other environmental data with a time-series component)

Whatever the outcome, the scope of the system will continue to cater for wider environmental data (not just climate data) and OpenCDMS will be a Reference Implementation of a Climate Data Management System (e.g. suitable for the management of Essential Climate Variables).

Consider making the "Comprehensive Data Management System for earth system data with a time-series component" change on opencdms.org and get feedback from hydrology community.

martynsunter commented 3 years ago

Would it be easier to keep the current acronym, but include information about its potential compatibility with other data types within the description. E.g.

OpenCDMS - Climate Data Management System (also compatible with hydrological, marine and other environmental data with a time-series component)

isedwards commented 3 years ago

Thank you Martyn, I've added this as a third option.

In the 1st Sep PAT meeting I'll suggest we create a Hydrology Working Group to better understand and represent the needs of the hydrological community.

The group can then feedback on this and other issues.