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crucial to 
retrieval, 
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, 
cataloging, data security, data integrity, intellectual 
property protection and others. The system 
incorporates extensive retrieval strategies including 
geographic search techniques. The open architecture 
of the system ensures easy integration of multi- 
functional software to meet the needs of the individual 
user. For example, the system as currently configured 
integrates third party viewing and imagery 
manipulation software. 
Effective geospatial asset management solutions go 
beyond incorporating software and hardware for 
automated asset processing, management, retrieval and 
preservation. They provide optional integrated 
software solutions for imagery analysis and a 
specialized "joystick" for ^ smooth imagery 
manipulation. 
2- G-DAM — A CUSTOMIZED ASSET 
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE 
GEOSPATIAL INDUSTRY 
Digital asset management is a broadly used concept; it 
means very different things in different application 
areas. Geospatial Digital Asset Management systems 
(G-DAM's), the subject of this paper, are an essential 
element of success in the geospatial industry. This 
industry spans many fields from the traditional (e.g. 
map-makers and ground station operators) to new 
participants of which the most important current 
example is homeland security. All players in the 
business require a system which meets their needs and 
concerns. 
In the geospatial context, a DAM (or G-DAM) will 
ingest the imagery, will store the imagery intelligently, 
will preserve it and will incorporate interfaces to a 
broad variety of image manipulation tools. The G- 
DAM system will provide searchable, secure archives 
and address all aspects of the digital media processing 
chain. In order to generate products, in many 
application areas, there will also be a built in interface 
to a Geographical Information System or GIS. Table 
| summarizes the needs of the DATA USER, the 
DATA Collector and the Developer. 
GEOSPATIAL DATA USER 
The user needs efficient search and retrieval and an 
casy to handle catalogue system. G-DAM solutions 
must incorporate a variety of techniques to search and 
retrieve imagery from the facility archive. The archive 
should be searchable by location, by date and by 
subject matter. Search algorithms should be 
implementable by drawing on an onscreen map or 
entering parameters. To achieve this full range of 
search capability requires a system which incorporates 
^ 
"intelligent storage". 
What is intelligent storage? 
Remote Sensing 
and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B4. Istanbul 2004 
1169 
  
* [fa system has stored data intelligently, it is 
easy and quick to search and retrieve by 
date, by location (especially critical in the 
geospatial context) and by other parameters 
relevant to the application at hand. For 
example, in an agricultural application, both 
time of day and season of the year may be 
important parameters for searches. In cases 
where multiple sets of data, acquired in 
different ways, exist for the same area, it is 
important to be able to search using meta 
data related to the cameras used for the 
various images. 
* Data that is more immediate in some sense 
(whether temporal or otherwise) should be 
more readily accessible. If the application is 
time-critical (e.g. the news media) then it is 
essential that images acquired most recently 
be in the on-line storage areas. 
The original archive will be enhanced with derived 
products. The search mechanism implemented in the 
DAM must allow for this — a user should be able to 
retrieve original imagery and associated derived 
product. This functionality is achieved by a 
combination of hardware and software architecture. 
The hardware architecture is typically a traditional 
three level archive — storage is on line, near line or off 
line. 
The DATA Collector 
The data collector (typically the owner of the data) has 
serious concerns about security of the data and its 
preservation. 
® SECURITY - A capable asset management 
system incorporates comprehensive multi- 
level security schemes, which include 
control and monitoring of user privileges, 
workstation access, System administration. 
and product distribution. Access to the data 
should be controlled by password, i.e. users 
must be authenticated before gaining access. 
In addition, the system must be capable of 
supporting a hierarchy of users with more or 
less privileged access. The output of the 
system should also be controlled - various 
products may be viewable by different sets 
of users. In other words, distribution of 
products generated by the System is 
controlled by rules limiting export of files 
according to predetermined categories of 
recipients. A multi-level security algorithm 
is essential in geospatial DAMs. In addition 
to the measures outlined above, the 
administrative controls include security logs 
that track and permanently record each and 
every transaction, file retrieval or 
distribution.