CGA - Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica 3° SCAGI Meeting Buenos Aires, 31 July - 1 August, 2010 CGA, entrusted to Italy by SCAR in Now, a 18 years old project, is a cooperation between the Italian PNRA and the Australian AAD with contributions by all SC-AGI Members

CGA, updating 1 June 2010 Contains place names (including 176 since Amsterdam 2009) Contains place names (including 176 since Amsterdam 2009) Corresponding to geographical features (including 99 added after Amsterdam 2009) Corresponding to geographical features (including 99 added after Amsterdam 2009) Provided by 22 Countries Provided by 22 Countries

New entries from Sept.1, 2009 to May 31, 2010 (*) according to work on Larsemann Hills, Brolsma et al. BulgariaUKUSAChinaFranceTotal New features New adopted names Coordinates amended Change in name Change in reference number (*)750 Descriptions amended Total (*) after Brolsmas work on Larsemann Hills

CGA Just a compilation, however….. Input data made homogeneous Transliteration and translation Classification Data check Association of names to features Grouping of names around a feature (Unique SCAR ID)

CGA Some choices Exclusion of features North of 60°S Partial inclusion of man- made features Exclusion of non official names Inclusion of undersea features Inclusion of subglacial features

CGA-GEBCO Harmonization A project started by H.W. Schenke and R. Cervellati at Buenos Aires first SC-AGI meeting (Oct.2007). Carried out by R. Krocker (AWI) in 6 months. Set of proposal for changes in the CGA, issued in Sept.2008.

CGA CGA-GEBCO Harmonization Differences in geographical coordinates are partly accounted for by the fact that GEBCO contains point, line and spatial features. National gazetteers and CGA, on the contrary, contain only point-like features.

CGA-GEBCO Harmonization The Norwegian reply made a good point. No other replies. CGA will include changes only if they are made in the national gazetteers.

CGA-GEBCO Harmonization Krocker took into consideration 74 geographic features. Harmonization required changes in the generic term, and/or specific name, and/or coordinates. 7 Countries are involved (ARG, AUS, GBR, NOR, NZL, RUS, USA). Relevant info circulated and request for comments among Members ( )

CGA and Google Earth Encouragement from SCAR ExCom: Encouragement from SCAR ExCom: to develop a pan-Antarctic perspective to develop a pan-Antarctic perspective to interact with the SC-ATS to interact with the SC-ATS to advise and look support inside SCAR itsel to advise and look support inside SCAR itsel To implement the Data and Information Management Strategy (DIMS) To implement the Data and Information Management Strategy (DIMS)

CGA and Google Earth Paul Woodmam, former Chair of UK APC, verified the interest of Google Earth in using CGA names (Nairobi 2010, Intl Conference on Place Names). Paul Woodmam, former Chair of UK APC, verified the interest of Google Earth in using CGA names (Nairobi 2010, Intl Conference on Place Names). The problem of multiple names and multiple coordinates was suddenly evident. The problem of multiple names and multiple coordinates was suddenly evident. To obtain that a name be changed is a hard task but to improve coordinates looks feasible. To obtain that a name be changed is a hard task but to improve coordinates looks feasible.

CGA and Google Earth Henk Brolsma, who prepared the Issues Paper on the inconsistencies existing among the National Gazetteers, Henk Brolsma, who prepared the Issues Paper on the inconsistencies existing among the National Gazetteers, verified the willingness of SC-AGIs Members to operate towards an improvement of the coordinates, verified the willingness of SC-AGIs Members to operate towards an improvement of the coordinates, obtaining a range of responses from positive to negative or no response at all. obtaining a range of responses from positive to negative or no response at all.

CGA and Google Earth SC-AGI is in a difficult position between SC-AGI is in a difficult position between the EXCom Policy and DIMS the EXCom Policy and DIMS and and the impossibility to change anything in the CGA without the consent of the Members the impossibility to change anything in the CGA without the consent of the Members

CGA and Google Earth An additional effort is required from SC-AGI in the short term. Suggested points of discussion are: An additional effort is required from SC-AGI in the short term. Suggested points of discussion are: improvement of coordinates/feasibility improvement of coordinates/feasibility availability of Members to share the overall burden availability of Members to share the overall burden liason of Members with one another to agree to the same coordinates liason of Members with one another to agree to the same coordinates could a subset of CGA, derived from CGA but different from CGA, provide a product suitable for Google Earth? could a subset of CGA, derived from CGA but different from CGA, provide a product suitable for Google Earth? (at present we could only supply Google Earth with the national gazetteers as independent layers of information) (at present we could only supply Google Earth with the national gazetteers as independent layers of information)

CGA Two main products: A web-site continuosly updated A web-site continuosly updated / Two hard-copy Publications (in 1998 e 2000) plus a Supplement (in 2004) with SCARs financial support Two hard-copy Publications (in 1998 e 2000) plus a Supplement (in 2004) with SCARs financial support

CGA Place names areal distribution shows that: different Countries apparently adopted different approaches. Russia and USA gazetteers cover all the continent. claimant Countries seem to be mainly interested in the claimed sector. other Countries add up comparatively few places names

CGA Contribution to the international awareness that toponymy in Antarctica, even though left to the choices of Countries, cant be quite arbitrary. Contribution to the international awareness that toponymy in Antarctica, even though left to the choices of Countries, cant be quite arbitrary. There are the SCARs recommendations, a coordination (SC-AGI), a preset format for editing place names There are the SCARs recommendations, a coordination (SC-AGI), a preset format for editing place names

CGA The practical outcome The practical outcome CGA is most complete and updated list (as much as practicable) of the existing names. For every new proposed toponym it is feasible to verify whether the feature has been already named. For every new proposed toponym it is feasible to verify whether the feature has been already named.

CGA The present The present AADC of AAD has accomplished the task of moving the CGA data-base into a new server, adding new fields and new search capabilities, fully refurbishing the web site. Cooperation between Italy and Australia is excellent.

In the near future Tackling the multiple coordinates problem Tackling the multiple coordinates problem perhaps establishing a task force inside the SC- AGI perhaps establishing a task force inside the SC- AGI To assess the size of the problem and its relationship at different scales To assess the size of the problem and its relationship at different scales To set up a medium term program (on the web and/or on the field) for the adhering Countries To set up a medium term program (on the web and/or on the field) for the adhering Countries To obtain the involvement of Countries. To obtain the involvement of Countries. Countries to cooperate. Their work to be acknowledged. Countries to cooperate. Their work to be acknowledged.