IC GS

Informatics Breakout Group

Informatics Breakout – topics discussed

1) How will 1G integrate with topographic data?

2) Centralized, distributed, or hybrid model?

3) How will authorship be communicated?

4) Will we use GeoSciML for WFS schematic interoperability?

5) Linguistic base of 1G project

6) A detailed timetable. What precisely is the next step for

surveys?

1. How will 1G integrate with topographic dataRecommendations:

– When we serve the web maps (OGC WMS,WFS), WGS 84 (lat/long) is the default projection and the software offers other options as well e.g. the national projection

– That by default a topographic layer can be accessed from the GlobalMap 1:1M or the SRTM base in real time as a web service but a nation can serve its geology with integral topography if it wants to

– For bathymetry we can use GEBCO derivatives

– For Antarctica we have been offered SCAR

2) Centralised or distributed model?Recommendations:

– A hybrid whereby those that can make their data accessible from their website as a web service do so, and then we have regional data centres that host the web services for for those agencies that do to have the technical capability

– OneGeology can be accessed through the OneGeology portal which will lead people to the OneGeology services

– The portal will also provide, registry, technical reference and conformance tests and management services which will (only) need to be resourced sustainably

– By having a registry, OneGeology services can be accessed through other portals/web clients

3. How will authorship of data be communicated

Recommendations:– You can have the logo of each organisation that is

serving the data within their piece of the jigsaw– The One Geology specification will require that

the web services returning the data will include reference to the data provider and a link back to their home website to allow viewing of other data offerings

4. Do we use GeoSciML?Recommendations:

– Yes, it is already endorsed in Australia, Canada, US and proposed to be used in INSPIRE and AEGOS. It will be an IUGS endorsed Conceptual model of GeoScience that we can all use to exchange geoscience data

– Note: the WMS (Raster) level service does not require a Markup Language like GeoSciML

– Must have GeoSciML to fully exploit vector data and to exchange feature data within OneGeology

5. Linguistic base of OneGeology projectRecommendations:

– The legend available with each web map service may by default, be in the nation’s home language, but each nation aims to provide an English (and or other) alternative legend in parallel when it can

– Full Multilingual capability (e.g. where returned feature attributes are linked to multilingual concept definitions) is part of semantic interoperability, and therefore part of future goals

– Need multilingual initiatives to come together under CGI and to combine with the GeoSciML Concept Definitions Working Group

6. Prerequisites for OneGeology Involvement (1)• To provide a WMS you only require georeferenced

scanned paper map or raster digital GIS data • To provide feature and complex data queries via

GeoSciML based WFS you– Need to map from your GIS server (ARCINFO, Map

Info,ORACLE etc ) data store to WFS server configuration (Geoserver or Mapserver/arcims/Cocoon)

– Need a (trained) person week, but includes getting WFS going with open source software (IT issues)

– Note that the mapping process will be simple (small part of GeoSciML) if the themes chosen by the geological specification group are simple e.g. simple polygons with few attributes such as bedrock, lithology and age

6. Prerequisites for OneGeology Involvement (2)• Support services required

– A OneGeology specific branded cookbook (No 1) on ‘How to setup a WMS (raster) service (with no GIS/GeoSciML)

– A cookbook (No 2) that explains how we map from the backend data base to the GeoSciML WFS service and these could be developed in multi-lingual versions

– A cookbook (No 3) How to set up a WMS and/or WFS web service on your web server using Opensource software

– A support team or available (email?) expert team and it has to be funded

– A series of Regional Workshops to build technology capability within staff

– Base work on Open Source technologies so software ‘free’– Use a collaborative Website (TWIKI) (as with GeoSciML)

7. Detailed TimetableRecommendation

– Need a specification that shows what OneGeology is about

– Need a draft which is developed in a short time so that it is available for comment – could be achieved within three months of staff funding being obtained.

– Specification would include• Project outline and Roadmap

• Diagrams on how it will work

• Reference to ‘cookbooks’ and support to be used

Conclusions• Positive atmosphere• People wanted to move forward aggressively

to adopt advanced solutions• However, we need to recognise and respect

the varying technical capabilities that the individual agencies have

• We also need to respect their own business drivers