Java Servlet Technology to Enhance Web Access to Real-time and Retrospective Environmental Data

This paper describes the use of Java Servlet technology to support web access to real-time environmental data and graphics. Java Servlets are generic server extensions that can be loaded dynamically to expand the functionality of a web server and is a modern replacement for the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts in web applications. The advantages of Java Servlet technology over CGI are that the servlets are portable, efficient and powerful. Our applications of the Java Servelet technology for serving environmental data on the web include a Tsunami warning buoy real-time sea level data web page, real-time TAO buoy data web pages, and NODC CoastWatch Retrospective AVHRR Data web pages. Our paper will provide an overview of Java Servlet technology, describe our applications of Java Servlet implementation for web access to environmental data, and present the lessons we have learned in the use of this emerging technology.