Random-access technique for modular bathymetry data storage in a continental shelf wave refraction program

Responsibility: by Lamont R. Poole.
Imprint: Washington, D.C. : National Aeronautics and Space Administration ; Springfield, Va. : For sale by the National Technical Information Service [distributor], 1974.
Physical description: 21 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.
Series: NASA technical memorandum X-3018.

Online

Stacks Request

Items in Stacks
Call number	Status
NASA TM X-3018	Available

Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. 15).
Summary: A study was conducted of an alternate method for storage and use of bathymetry data in the Langley Research Center and Virginia Institute of Marine Science mid-Atlantic continental-shelf wave-refraction computer program. The regional bathymetry array was divided into 105 indexed modules which can be read individually into memory in a nonsequential manner from a peripheral file using special random-access subroutines. In running a sample refraction case, a 75-percent decrease in program field length was achieved by using the random-access storage method in comparison with the conventional method of total regional array storage. This field-length decrease was accompanied by a comparative 5-percent increase in central processing time and a 477-percent increase in the number of operating-system calls. A comparative Langley Research Center computer system cost savings of 68 percent was achieved by using the random-access storage method.

Subjects: Bathymeters.; Data storage.; Random access memory.; Computer programs.; Continental shelves.; Cost effectiveness.; Oceanography.; Run time (Computers).; Water waves.; Head waves > Data processing.; Ocean waves.

Publication date: 1974
Series: NASA technical memorandum ; X-3018
Note: Cover title.; "July 1974."; Performing organization report no.: L-9432.; "NASA TM X-3018."

Start at call number: