DWD Geoportal – A central hub for Open Data, API and communication

Abstract

<p>In November 2021, DWD launched the pilot phase of the new DWD Geoportal at dwd-geoportal.de. It offers user-friendly exploration of DWD's Open Data, combining access to data, metadata, and documentation along with fulltext search and interactive previews powered by OGC WMS. This new front end covers datasets hosted on opendata.dwd.de as well as other DWD Open Data sources, for instance the Climate Data Centre and the DWD GeoServer.</p><p>The contribution will outline the latest version of the new DWD Geoportal and discuss current development and features that are planned for integration in the near future.</p><p>Open Data has been a part of the DWD data distribution strategy since 2017, starting with a small selection of meteorological products, but the number of available datasets has grown continuously over the last years. Since the start, users can download file-based meteorological products without registration. Free access and the variety of products have been welcomed by the general public as well as private met service providers. However, the more datasets were provided in a directory structure, the more tedious it became to find and select among all available data. Also, metadata and documentation were available, but on separate DWD websites. The DWD Geoportal adressed these trends, especially having new users of DWD's open data in mind.</p><p>Cloud technology is a suitable way forward for hosting the geoportal in it's operational state <span>along with the data</span>. Benefits are expected for the easy integration of rich APIs with the DWD Geoportal, and the flexible and fast deployment and scaling of optional or prototypical services such as WMS-based previews. DWD focuses on cloud technology for new development projects.</p>