README for 52°North Earth Observation GEONETCast Toolbox version 1.6

The toolbox plug-in, together with the existing processing utilities of ILWIS 3.7 (or higher)
facilitates the user to easily integrate large amounts of environmental data, which is delivered via 
EUMETCast / GEONETCast on a global scale, into various applications related to weather, atmosphere, 
oceans, land, vegetation, water and environment.

Further details at: http://52north.org/communities/earth-observation/
Release date: July 2014

Contents
========

   * download 52n-eo-gnc-toolbox-1.6.zip and copy the zip-file within the ILWIS \Extensions sub-directory. Start ILWIS and the plugin can be used.
   * The installation is licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2 (June 1991) and user guide documentation provided
     are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 License. You can find copies of both licenses within this 
     release bundle (GPL-v2.txt, CC-BY-NC-3.0.txt) in the root of the toolbox directory or at http://52north.org/communities/earth-observation/  
   * InstallationGuide.pdf : A printer-friendly version of the online installation and user guide available at
     http://52north.org/downloads/earth-observation/geonetcast/geonetcast-toolbox
   * ..\Extensions\GEONETCast-Toolbox\toolbox_startscript: The source ILWIS script files of the GEONETCast-Toolbox.
   * ..\Extensions\GEONETCast-Toolbox\toolbox_batchroutines: The source batch executables of the GEONETCast-Toolbox.
   * ..\Extensions\GEONETCast-Toolbox: Contains the compiled DataManager Version 2 and MSG-DataRetriever, for source code contact EO-Community Lead	
   * ..\Extensions\GEONETCast-Toolbox\GNC_productnavigator: Contains the GEONETCast Product Navigator as of release date GNC-toolbox version 1.6
     Ensure that the (sub) directory settings are properly specified under: Configuration  >  Folder  >  GNC Product Navigator

	 
Changes in release 1.6
======================

An overview of the changes in this release can also be found in the Changelog at http://52north.org/communities/earth-observation/gnc-changelog

Main New Features
------------

   * All batch routines have been updated to reflect the changes in GEONETCast but also have been made more stable as it is
     checking if the input data exists. If the data is not available the routine terminate.
   * The OCEANSAT-OSCAT (modelled) Winds import routine was removed as instrument currently is not operational any longer
   * Small change in MPEF and SAF sub-menu structure
   * Use of a new grib decoder - available in the \util sub-directory 
   * Included updated installation and user manuals in the sub-directory \util\manuals. This requires Adobe Reader to be installed 
   * Included import routines for the H-SAF global soil moisture and Copernicus global soil water index
   * Included routines to process the nowcasting products from the NWC-SAF
   * Included routines to process the Lightning Detection Data from ground based ATDNET network (Sferics)
   * Included routines to process the MPEF products from Meteosat7 (MFG) over the Indian Ocean 
     (clear sky radiances and water vapour, cloud mask - analysis and motion vector)
   * New routine for visualization of the NCEP GFS data
   * New routines to process the Proba Vegetation products for Africa and Latin America.
 	

Code Changes
------------

   * All relevant batch - ILWIS Script routines are modified and updated if required
   * Modified routine for MODIS fire data import, now global fires extracted and presented in single map


Installation
============

Installation instructions are provided in the Installation and User Guide, this guide can also be downloaded from http://52north.org/downloads/earth-observation/geonetcast/geonetcast-toolbox

Make sure that Java, Irfanview, Bufrtool, Bufrdisplay, etc. are locally available on your system. The link to these resources is also provided in the Installation and User Manual.  


Some 'golden' rules when using the toolbox under ILWIS
======================================================

	* Don’t use spaces in (sub-) directory or file names, instead use underscores;
	* Do not only use numbers as file names;
	* Do not work in multiple output directories;
	* Start ILWIS, navigate to your working directory and close ILWIS. Open ILWIS again to
	  ensure that your current working directory is also the actual ILWIS working directory.

	  
Download, Support and Contact
=============================

The latest release of GEONETCast Toolbox can be downloaded from this website:

    http://52north.org/downloads/earth-observation/geonetcast/toolbox

You can get support in the community mailing list and forums:

    http://52north.org/resources/mailing-list-and-forums/

If you encounter any issues with the software or if you would like to see
certain functionality added, let us know at:

    http://52north.org/communities/earth-observation/community-contact

The Earth Observation Community
52°North Inititative for Geospatial Open Source Software GmbH, Germany