Multi-tiered Peer-to-Peer data distribution for spatially enabled data

Peer to peer connections have been widely used within the scientific community for data sharing for collaborative efforts. Peer to peer networks are easy to use and set up and can handle large data sets that have traditionally been distributed by hard copy via sneakernet, by mail or through FTP sites. As peer-to-peer networks grow in scope, we are addressing their use for rapid data dissemination while taking into account the need to adhere to strict security requirements. For this project, we are testing both open-source peer-to-peer solutions for data distribution of icthyoplankton distribution data and related oceanographic data to peers within the National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and their peers outside of NOAA. We are testing different security models to determine levels of trust between peers within work groups and with outside peers. We are also testing a COTS product for data dissemination to provide users with hard copy maps of data and a mechanism to extract data to be used for analysis.

The distribution of data via maps and trusted peer networks will make data sharing and updating among workgroups faster for both rapid response (disaster management) as well as making collaboration easier.