The Man computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) project began over 30 years ago at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to analyze and visualize data from the first generation geostationary satellites. A new generation of imaging and sounding sensors developed for current and future operational satellites will be supported through innovative techniques for developing algorithms, visualizing data and products, and validating results. The Integrated Data Viewer (IDV), a reference application based on the VisAD library, is being developed by the Unidata Program and demonstrates the flexibility that is needed in this evolving environment, using a modern, object-oriented software design approach. The HYDRA software developed at SSEC/CIMSS within VisAD allows users to interrogate multi and hyper-spectral data in powerful ways.

A project is underway at SSEC/CIMSS to transition the current McIDAS-X into a VisAD/IDV/HYDRA-based, open-source system, to be known as McIDAS-V, and to provide multi-spectral and hyper-spectral researchers and algorithm developers with the data manipulation and visualization tools to work in this data rich environment. NASA EOS MODIS and AIRS data and well as MSG SEVERI and METOP IASI data have been used in conjunction with other in situ and gridded data to develop new tools, techniques and products in the prototype McIDAS-V environment. This new data analysis and visualization software tool will support the advanced measurement systems on GOES R and NPOESS. A review of the current state of McIDAS-V will be presented as well as plans for future development to support both the polar and geostationary environmental satellite programs.