[gdal-dev] How to represent multi-dimensional array

[Christopher Barker]

Hi folks,

I have a dataset that is a 4-dimensional array of values: time,x,y,z

We're currently using netcdf to store it, which is well suited to this 
kind of data.

However, we also need to get it into a GIS (Arc in this case), and I'm 
trying to find a good way to do that.

Both Arc and gdalinfo do strange things if I simply point them at the 
netcdf file. GDAL seems to (arbitrarily?) see it as a 9064 band data 
set, so it is taking particular slice (I think I'm getting a bunch of 
(time, z) 2-d bands.

Anyway, I suspect that if I re-arrange the axis in the netcdf file, I 
might get something more reasonable, but my question is:

What is a good format to ex[press this to a GIS system?

I'm imaging multiple files, maybe geo-tiff, but how to I express time 
and elevation in a way that is natural to GIS?

thanks for your thoughts,

-Chris


-- 
Christopher Barker, Ph.D.
Oceanographer

Emergency Response Division
NOAA/NOS/OR&R            (206) 526-6959   voice
7600 Sand Point Way NE   (206) 526-6329   fax
Seattle, WA  98115       (206) 526-6317   main reception

Chris.Barker at noaa.gov