R&D
Support for common data model (CDM), "HDFgeo"
(Paraphrased from the web site:) Unidata's Common Data Model (CDM) is an abstract data model for scientific datasets, the aim of this project is to unify scientific data access. It merges the OPeNDAP, netCDF, and HDF5 data models to create a common API for many types of data. As currently implemented by the NetCDF Java library, it can read (besides OPeNDAP, netCDF, and HDF5) GRIB 1 and 2, BUFR, NEXRAD, and GINI, among others. A pluggable framework allows other developers to add readers for their own specialized formats. The CDM also provides standard APIs for georeferencing coordinate systems, and specialized queries for scientific data types like Grid, Point, and Radial datasets.
The CDM also adds "Georeferencing Coordinate Systems" and specialized "Scientific Data Type" layers, which provide the semantics needed to convert datasets to other protocols and formats such as those required by GIS systems. Plans are in place to support CDM in netCDF, including netCDF 4, but it would be very good to support CDM for HDF5 files that are not netCDF 4. Other activities that may fall within this project: Harmonize CDM unstructured grids with CTT and other mesh work. Provide tool that gives good housekeeping seal for files conforming to CDM."
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf-java/CDM/index.html