Retrieving GIS-friendly NDFD Data

Overview

Users can gain access to National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) data using a variety of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) clients. These clients understand data encoding formats like Geography Markup Language (GML) and Keyhole Markup Language (KML). Both the NDFD Web Feature Service (WFS) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) service support these two GIS-friendly data encoding formats. This page describes how to use ArcGIS, Google Earth, Google Maps and uDig to import NDFD data using the WFS and SOAP interfaces.

ArcGIS 9.1

From the NDFD WFS




• ArcGIS 9.1 users can review the following tutorial to see how to import NDFD data using the WFS interoperability connection.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/WFS_example91.htm#fromWFS91

From a File Containing GML




• ArcGIS 9.1 users can review the following tutorial to learn how to import NDFD data that is encloded in GML. The GML encoded data can be obtained from either the NDFD SOAP service or WFS.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/WFS_example91.htm#fromFile91

ArcGIS 9.2

From the NDFD WFS




• ArcGIS 9.2 users can review the following tutorial to understand how to import NDFD data using support for the WFS protocol.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/WFS_example92.htm#fromWFS92

From a File Containing GML




• ArcGIS 9.2 users can review the following tutorial on importing GML encoded NDFD data from a file. The GML and KML encoded data can be obtained from either the NDFD SOAP service or WFS.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/WFS_example92.htm#fromFile92

Google Earth

From the NDFD WFS




• Google Earth users can review the following tutorial to understand how to import NDFD data using the NDFD WFS.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/Google_example.htm#fromWFS

From a File Containing KML




• Google Earth users can review the following tutorial on importing KML encoded NDFD data from a file. The KML encoded data can be obtained from either the NDFD SOAP service or WFS.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/Google_example.htm#fromFile

Google Maps

From a URL Containing KML




• Google Maps users can review the following tutorial on importing KML encoded NDFD data from a file that has been posted to the web. The KML encoded data can be obtained from either the NDFD SOAP service or WFS.
  
  http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/Google_example.htm#fromFile_Maps

uDig

Import NDFD Data into uDig




• The application User-friendly Desktop Internet GIS (uDig) can import NDFD using the WFS protocol. The steps to accomplish the import are defined in the uDig tutorial http://www.weather.gov/mdl/XML/Design/UDIG_example.htm