Multivariate data design

[jfnavin]

Some requirements/features around multivariate data:

• System should support data layers that comprise of more than one data variable.
• Data variables should include common metadata (e.g. name, description, dimensionality, units etc.)
• It should be possible to provide a mapping from variables in multivariate layers to some standard properties of the visualisation system (e.g. spatial dimensions, temporal dimension, colour channel, colour map key etc.). This mapping may be user configured or defined via some external mechanism (catalog etc.)
• Interfaces should, as much as possible, be consistent regardless of the underlying data types stored in the data variables

A quick sketch to get started on discussion etc.

[uwer]

there should definitely be access to data via spatial position - but also based on type, where type reflects data along a axis or along a set of points I think V- Mapper has with the two examples already a function which crosses distinct areas. It is on one side responsibility of the data providing component and its coordinate system - colour provision would be based on value (and unit) associated with the var at position. finally a multivariate variable refers to dimensionality ? or a composite variable? (a fake var which is made up of two or more actual var - i.e. individual vectorial components)