What is the .nde format

The .nde file format is a modality agnostic file format for storage of non-destructive testing data. It provides a relatively simple file structure for most supported use cases while enabling more complex future solutions. The file is associated wit a standardized referential system related to the inspection componennt as well as standradized definitions for scenarios and objects. Data is stored using the HDF5 file format combined with a JSON text format to describe the associated metadata.

Combining simplicity while enabling complex use cases is achieved by the following two constructs:

• Scenarios, which define by convention some aspects of the configuration
• Objects, which describe physical components at the appropriate level of complexity

Each file is structured with two sections:

• Applications: A proprietary acquisition software-specific section. This section is not meant for use by .nde readers.
• Domain: Includes the standardized dataset information and standardized objects described in an embedded JSON file.