About GRiD

Version v2.0.0

The Geospatial Repository and Data (GRiD) Management System is an advanced geospatial database for the storage, processing, visualization, and dissemination of three-dimensional (3D) pointcloud data (e.g., Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)) and associated geospatial products, as well as Elevation Models (i.e., Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), Digital Surface Models (DSMs)).

GRiD is a unique combination of open-source software, geospatial libraries (both community and government), frameworks, format specifications and standards, and spatial databases (Oracle Spatial 12c) which provides a platform for advanced geospatial data management capabilities. GRiD is optimized for geospatial data and supports both the data provider and the data user in various ways.

Our Mission

GRiD is the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) enterprise storage and dissemination solution for 3D geospatial and digital terrain elevation data. GRiD, a multi-network domain and cloud scalable architecture, provides timely access to relevant data for decision makers, warfighters, and first responders.

Benefits of GRiD

GRiD is a geospatial data management system that enables efficient utilization of very large, complex 3D datasets, while minimizing bandwidth usage. GRiD fulfills the requirements of data providers while supporting users operating in both desktop and mobile environments.

For the Data Provider, GRiD provides:

  • Data storage and data management
  • Support for multiple data import and export formats
  • Secure user and data access control

For the User, GRiD provides:

  • Area of Interest (AOI) oriented data management, export, analysis and download capabilities
  • Efficient web-based download capabilities
  • User-defined data filters
  • Web-based visualization and analytic tools

GRiD also provides users with the following high-level capabilities and functions:

  • Spatially enabled database: GRiD supports the 3D spatial organization of the data, including indexing for high performance, which enables users to perform structured queries directly on the data.
  • File Format Neutrality: GRiD supports the ingest and export of multiple data types and formats by leveraging open source data translators (i.e. libLAS, Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL), Point Data Abstraction Library (PDAL)) to generate a generic file format neutral approach for storage.
  • Data Management: GRiD provides a single data management capability to support integrated geospatial data structures.
  • Compression: GRiD provides high performance lossless pointcloud compression 10x or better.
  • Graphical User Interface: GRiD provides a geospatial graphical user interface for user areas of interest (AOIs) and data collection footprints.
  • Data Chipping: GRiD provides users with the capability to download only their area of interest (i.e. chipping) instead of entire tiles.
  • Subscriptions: GRiD enables users to establish standing queries for whenever new data is available over designated Areas of Interest (AOIs).
  • Workgroups: GRiD enables users to create and manage workgroups and share AOIs with other users as desired.
  • Application Programmer’s Interface (API): GRiD will enable external programs and applications to export data from the database without utilizing the visualization screen. The API will enable fast integration of new applications to GRiD.
  • Web-based Analytic Tools/Services: GRiD provides users with various web-based analytic tools and services. These are essential to users working with large data volumes and bandwidth constraints.