opendap

Access remote scientific datasets via OPeNDAP with constraint expressions.

16|2|Updated Jul 4, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Intelligent-Data-Design-Inc/NEP --skill opendap
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: opendap
Source: https://github.com/Intelligent-Data-Design-Inc/NEP/tree/main/.windsurf/skills/opendap
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Intelligent-Data-Design-Inc/NEP --skill opendap

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

OPeNDAP solves the challenge of accessing large remote scientific datasets efficiently by providing a standard web-based data access protocol with server-side subsetting and a unified data model.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Client/server architecture with HTTP-based data access
  • Support for DAP2 and DAP4 protocols
  • Constraint expressions for subsetting and filtering data
  • Unified data model supporting base types, arrays, structures, sequences, and grids
  • URL construction and common service endpoints (.dds, .das, .dmr.xml, .dods, .dap, .ascii, .info)
  • Client integration with NetCDF and other tools
  • Use Case: retrieve a time subset of a remote NetCDF dataset via a single constraint-powered URL to minimize data transfer.

Quick Start

Provide an OPeNDAP URL and an optional constraint expression to fetch a data subset from a remote dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions about opendap

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I access large remote scientific datasets without downloading the entire file?

Use OPeNDAP to access large remote scientific datasets via HTTP with server-side subsetting. Constraint expressions allow you to filter and retrieve only the specific data subsets you need, minimizing data transfer over the network.

What is the OPeNDAP protocol and how does it handle remote data requests?

The OPeNDAP protocol is a standard web-based data access method using a client/server architecture. It handles remote data requests through DAP2 and DAP4 protocols, utilizing a unified data model that supports base types, arrays, structures, sequences, and grids.

Can I use NetCDF clients to access remote datasets via OPeNDAP?

Yes, you can use NetCDF clients to access remote datasets via OPeNDAP. The protocol supports client integration with NetCDF and other tools, allowing you to retrieve data subsets like a time slice from a remote NetCDF dataset using a single constraint-powered URL.

How do I construct an OPeNDAP URL to subset and filter a remote dataset?

To construct an OPeNDAP URL for subsetting a remote dataset, append common service endpoints like .dds, .das, .dmr.xml, .dods, .dap, .ascii, or .info to the base URL, and include optional constraint expressions to filter the data server-side.

What is the difference between DAP2 and DAP4 protocols for remote data access?

Both DAP2 and DAP4 are supported protocols for remote data access in OPeNDAP. They provide a standard web-based method for client/server communication, utilizing a unified data model and constraint expressions to efficiently retrieve and subset scientific data.

When should I use OPeNDAP instead of directly downloading remote NetCDF files?

Use OPeNDAP instead of directly downloading remote NetCDF files when you need to efficiently access large scientific datasets. It provides server-side subsetting with constraint expressions, allowing you to retrieve only the required data subset and significantly minimize network data transfer.