IMAS Basic Concepts

1.1. Key IMAS element: the Data Model

• Joint scientific exploitation of ITER by multiple teams requires a Data Model to name and communicate physical and technical information → ITER Physics Data Model
• The Data Model provides information for data providers and data consumers on…
  • What data exist ?
  • What are they called ?
  • How are they structured as seen by the user ?
• IMAS components use the ITER Physics Data Model to:
  • Read & Write simulation results or experimental data
  • Interface codes together

1.2. The ITER Physics Data Model

• Aims at being the main gate to data for scientific exploitation, both for code interfacing and hands-on data browsing
• is unique for simulated and experimental data (same data structures)
• is device-generic → usable for ITER or any other fusion device
• has precise design rules for global homogeneity
• has precise lifecycle procedure to be able to evolve and be jointly developped by multiple teams

1.3. Access Layer

• API providing access methods (read/write) to an ITER physics Database based on the ITER Physics Data Model
• Provided in Fortran, C++, Matlab, Java, Python
• The only effort for using the Data Model is to map the input/output of your code to the Data Model and add some GET/PUT commands
• The access methods are writing to a local database stored in your account
• These local databases can be shared among users (for reading only) and can be accessed remotely

1.4. First use case: User or code accessing Data Base through Access Layer