Installing the CREW software package

From CrewWiki

Within the CREW project a software package was developed for the inter-comparison and validation against CALIOP, CPR and AMSR-E data. The software package currently has a beta version status. We would like to invite every user to give us feedback to improve the software package. The functionality of the CREW software package includes:

• displaying cloud properties on the SEVIRI disk or other user specified areas
• histograms
• latitudinal means
• plotting cloud property against viewing zenith angle
• scatter plots (SEVIRI algorithm A against SEVIRI algorithm B)
• scatter plots (SEVIRI algorithm against CALIOP/CPR/AMSR-E)
• multi algorithms ensemble means and standard devations
• ISCCP type plots (frequency distribution in dependence of cloud optical thickness and cloud top pressure)
• cross section plots along the ATRAIN tracks
• Taylor diagrams

Several steps have to be completed before you can use the CREW software package if you like to intercompare SEVIRI retrievals:
1. Send us an email in order to register for the CREW project
2. Download and unpack the CREW software package
3. Download and unpack the CREW common database
4. Adjust a few startup files
If you like to compare SEVIRI against Atrain sensors, following packages has to be installed additionally:
5. Download the AVACS software
6. Create a database of reference datasets
7. Use the CREW and AVACS software package in combination

Installation procedure in more details

1. Registration at ICARE
Please send us an email to register at the ICARE service.

2. Download the CREW software
Go to a folder, where you would like to install the CREW software (4.4MB).
Download an unpack the CREW software package crewsoftware.tar.gz
unpack the software archive (for Linux use tar xfvj crewsoftware.tar.gz, for windows use some kind of zip software)

3. Download the CREW SEVIRI database in common format
Go to a folder, where you have place to store a large SEVIRI dataset (8.7GB).
Download an unpack the CREW software package DATA_CREW3_common.tar.gz
unpack the software archive (for Linux use tar xfvj DATA_CREW3_common.tar.gz, for windows use some kind of zip software)

4. Adjust some files
4.1 Add a idl start_up file to your <homedir>/.bashrc
# set IDL startup file
export IDL_STARTUP=${HOME}/.idl/idl_startup.pro

4.2 Modify (or create) your idl_startup file ${HOME}/.idl/idl_startup.pro
!PATH=!PATH+":<path to crewsoftware>/cws3/trunk/tools/"
!PATH=!PATH+":<path to crewsoftware>/cws3/trunk/tools/subtools/"
!PATH=!PATH+":<path to crewsoftware>/cws3/trunk/tools/subtools/msg/"
where <path to crewsoftware> is the absolute path to the directory where you save the CREW software.

4.3 Add some more lines in your idl_startup file
DEFSYSV, '!PROJECTS', { $
cws_path: '<path to crewsoftware>/cws3/trunk/', $
cws_archive: '<path to SEVIRI database in common format>/'}

5. Create your first image
Start idl from your command line and type following commands: o=obj_new('cws_read')
o->set_date,2008,6,13,12,00
o->set_product,'ctt'
o->set_group,'AWG'
array = o->get_data()
view2d,array,/cool,/colo,no_data_idx=where(array le 0)
obj_destroy, o


or try another more advanced example

Now you completed everything for inter-comparison of SEVIRI cloud retrievals from the common database. The CREW software in combination with the AVACS software has the functionality to compare the SEVIRI cloud retrievals with data sets of the ATRAIN satellite constellation. Therefore, you have to install also the AVACS software.

6. Installation of the AVACS software
Contact Frank Fell for access to the AVACS software. Follow the installation instructions.