MiniSEEDcompatible

MiniSEEDcompatible is a term that generally refers to data or software that adheres to the MiniSEED format specifications. MiniSEED is a widely adopted, compact binary format for storing seismic waveform data. It was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is a subset of the more comprehensive SEED (Seismic Data Standard) format. The primary goal of MiniSEED is to efficiently store and transfer continuous or event-based seismic data, including amplitude, time, and quality information.

Software or hardware that is "MiniSEEDcompatible" means it can correctly read, write, or process data files that conform to the MiniSEED standard. This compatibility is crucial for interoperability within the seismological community, allowing different instruments, data acquisition systems, and analysis tools to exchange and utilize seismic data seamlessly. Many seismic data centers, research institutions, and instrument manufacturers employ MiniSEED as their standard for data distribution and storage.

When a system is described as MiniSEEDcompatible, it implies that it can understand the byte-level structure of MiniSEED records, including the headers that describe the data, and can correctly interpret the associated waveform samples. Conversely, it also means that such a system can generate valid MiniSEED files. This ensures that seismic data collected by one MiniSEEDcompatible device can be readily used by another, fostering collaboration and enabling advanced seismological research and monitoring efforts globally.