odb4py 1.3.2rc2

Python extension to access the ECMWF observation database (ODB1) format

odb4py 1.3.2rc2 release

Description

odb4py (Observation DataBase FOR PYthon) is a C/Python interface to read and query ECMWF ODB1 databases.
It provides high-performance access to ODB data through a native C backend, with seamless integration into the Python scientific ecosystem.
The package embeds a customized version of the ECMWF ODB software odb_api_bundle-0.18.1-Source and is distributed as manylinux wheels, requiring no external ODB installation.

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Features

• Native C backend based on ECMWF ODB1
• Support for IFS and ARPEGE ODB databases
• SQL-like query interface
• Fast data access with NumPy/C API and pandas integration
• No runtime dependency on system ODB or ECMWF bundles
• Conversion to other formats : ODB2 ,NetcDF and SQLITE

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Installation

The odb4py package can be installed from PyPI using pip:

pip install odb4py  

Installation test

>>> from odb4py import core # The extension core
>>> from odb4py import convert # An extension for format conversion
>>> from odb4py import utils # Pure python modules helpers

Requirements

Python ≥ 3.9
NumPy ≥ 2.0
Linux system (manylinux2014 compatible)

Optional

pyodc ≥ 1.6.0

Scientific context

ODB (Observation DataBase) is a column-oriented database format developed at ECMWF and widely used in numerical weather prediction systems such as IFS,ARPEGE and NWP limited are models

odb4py is primarily designed for:

• Meteorologists and atmospheric scientists (especially within the ACCORD consortium)
  
• Operational and research environments
• Post-processing and diagnostic workflows
• The current package version focuses on read-only access and data extraction for scientific analysis.

License

Apache License, Version 2.0. See LICENSE for details .

odb4py incorporates components derived from the ECMWF ODB software.

The original source code has been modified to:

• Expose functionality through a Python interface
• Reduce the runtime footprint
• Enable portable binary wheel distribution

All original copyrights remain with ECMWF.

Acknowledgements

• This project incorporates and is derived from the ECMWF ODB software.
  ODB was developed at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) by S. Saarinen et al. All rights to the original ODB software remain with ECMWF and their respective owners.
• The author would like to thank the other colleagues from ACCORD consortium (MetCOop , SHMI , AEMET & Meteo France ) for providing different samples of ODBs.
• The author would also like to thank 'Mohand Ouali Ait Meziane' for testing odb4py and providing valuable feedback.