File name:      Readme.txt

Authors:        Roman Gerlach

Affiliation:    Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
                SIBERIA-II Project (EC contract: EVG1-CT-2001-00048)
                Loebdergraben 32
                D-07743 Jena, Germany
                http://www.siberia2.uni-jena.de/index.php

E-mails:        roman.gerlach@uni-jena.de

Document title: Brief Documentation of the AlbersEqualAreaConic plug-in
                A plug-in for MERIS/(A)ATSR Toolbox (BEAM)

Release date:	March 30, 2005



Introduction
------------

This file briefly describes the installation and use of the accompanying software 
package, which provides the transformation from geographic coordinates (Lat,Long) into
the Albers Equal Area Conic Projection and vice versa. The algorithm has been adopted from 
the document cited in the references section below.



Requirements
------------

The AlbersEqualAreaConic extension is a plug-in module for the BEAM software developed
by Brockmann Consult for ESA. This latter software must of course be
installed prior to the plugin.

The BEAM software includes an application programming interface (API) and
a set of executable tools to facilitate the use of MERIS, AATSR and further
ASAR data products of the ESA ENVISAT satellite.

It can be freely downloaded from:

http://www.brockmann-consult.de/services/beam2/software/




Installation
------------

The BEAM package (here : BEAM VISAT Version 3.2) is installed within a
particular, user-selectable, directory. For the purpose of this documentation
file, that directory will be denoted $BEAM_HOME$. After installation of the
BEAM package, this directory should contain the following subdirectories
and files:

    $BEAM_HOME$
        |- auxdata/
        |- bin/
        |- docs/
        |- extensions/
        |- jre/
        |- lib/
        |- license/
        |- log/
        |- api-doc.zip
        |- changelog.txt
        |- epr_api-2.0.5.zip
        |- examples.zip
        |- known-issues.txt
        |- readme.txt
        |- src.zip
        |- version.txt

The AlbersEqualAreaConic plug-in, named 'AlbersEqualAreaConic.jar', must simply be added
to the $BEAM_HOME$/extensions/ subdirectory. The BEAM application (VISAT)
will automatically integrate the plugin within its interface.



Operation
---------

After starting the VISAT application the new projection will be available within the following tools 
and processors:

Map Projection Tool
Orthorectification Tool (BEAM-3.2 only)
Mosaicing Processor

The new projection can be found in the Projection drop down list in each of the dialog boxes associated 
with the above mentioned tools and processors.

NOTE: The default values are specific to the SIBERIA-II project and should be altered according to other 
areas of interest.


Remarks
--------

The AlbersEqualAreaConic plug-in has been developed for version 3.1 of the BEAM software using J2SE SDK 1.4.2.07. 
Testing has been performed successfully with BEAM-3.1 and 3.2 under Linux (Fedora) as well as Windows XP Pro SP2. 
Only MERIS_FR_2P data of a region in central Siberia has been used for testing. 



Warranties and copyright information
------------------------------------

The plugin described in this document is provided
'as is', with no warranty of merchantability or fitness to any particular
purpose. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of computations
and conformity to the algorithms as published in the references below, the
authors assume no responsibility whatsoever for any direct, indirect or
consequential damage resulting from the use of this software. The plugin
is distributed free of charge and cannot be sold or re-sold. It
can be copied and distributed further, provided all documentation is attached
and provided the original source of the software is explicitly and
prominently described.

Questions, concerns and problems should be referred to the authors of the
software package at the address indicated at the start of this file.

The copyright on this file and the associated software remains with the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
(Germany).



Acknowledgement
----------------

The AlbersEqualAreaConic plug-in has been developed as part of the SIBERIA-II Project (http://www.siberia2.uni-jena.de/index.php) 
funded by the European Commission under contract EVG1-CT-2001-00048. Many thanks also to Dr. S. Kralisch and 
C. Beer (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) as well as Norman Fomferra (Brockmann Consult) for their support. 


References
-----------

Snyder,J.P. (1987): Map Projections - A Working Manual. USGS Professional Paper 1395.