The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) utilizes Apache Cassandra, an open-source NoSQL database, to support its Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) program. The OOI program is a science-driven network of ocean observatories that gathers real-time data from over 800 instruments deployed in the world’s oceans to address crucial scientific questions. This initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to encourage scientific investigation by making the collected data freely accessible online to anyone with an internet connection.
As the central database for the OOI program, Apache Cassandra serves as the heart of the system, managing and storing the vast amount of data generated by the oceanographic instruments. Cassandra is specifically utilized to store and retrieve the collected data, providing a scalable and highly available storage solution for the program’s needs. It enables WHOI to efficiently manage the massive volume of data generated by the OOI instruments and supports real-time data delivery to users worldwide for scientific, research, and educational purposes.
WHOI’s use of Apache Cassandra within the OOI program addresses the critical requirements of data storage, retrieval, and distribution. By leveraging Cassandra’s capabilities, WHOI ensures the efficient management and accessibility of the extensive oceanographic observation data collected through the OOI program.