McIDAS-V - A powerful data analysis and visualization tool for multi and hyperspectral environmental satellite data

The University of Wisconsin's Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) has been at the forefront in developing data analysis and visualization tools for environmental satellites and other geophysical data. The fifth generation of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS-V) is a java-based, open-source, freely available system for multispectral and hyperspectral researchers and algorithm developers. McIDAS-V provides powerful new data manipulation and visualization tools for working with future GOES-R and NPP/NPOESS data, while continuing to support current environmental satellite systems and its broad McIDAS user base. The McIDAS-V software tools provide expanded capability and performance to support innovative techniques for developing and evaluating algorithms, visualizing data and products, and validating results. NASA EOS MODIS and AIRS data, MSG SEVERI, METOP IASI and numerous other environmental satellite data are being used in conjunction with in situ and gridded data to develop new analysis and product validation techniques in the McIDAS-V environment. A review of the current state of McIDAS-V will be presented as well as plans for future development to support both the U.S. polar and geostationary environmental satellite programs.