Workshop WSS-03: Delivery of Geoscience Information using Web Services IGC August 2008

Workshop Aim To provide participants with an understanding and demonstration of the latest developments in the CGI-IUGS GeoScience Mark-up Language (GeoSciML)

Programme Agenda

Background Users expect to be able to obtain electronic geoscience data in a standard form from different providers. They want interoperability. Meeting called in Edinburgh in November 2003 to address this issue. Attended by representatives of 15 geological surveys Led to agreement on a set of objectives …and the scope of the data to be included (at least to start with)

Objectives To develop international standards for the structure of geological information (i.e. data model standards) to enable interoperability, particularly among national geological survey agencies. More specific objectives are –to develop a conceptual model of geoscientific information drawing on existing data models –to implement this model in an agreed schema language (UML) –implement an XML/GML encoding of the model –develop a testbed to illustrate the potential of the data model for interchange –identify areas that require standardised classifications in order to enable interchange

The scope of GeoSciML 1.The scientific information (not cartography) normally shown on geological maps including: Geologic Units Earth materials (lithologies) Geologic Structures This information is mainly interpretative 2.Boreholes and in the next release…. 3.Samples and measurements

What does interoperability mean? There are four levels of interoperability: Data content Data structure Data language Data systems systems syntax schematic semantic interoperability Geoscience community OpenGIS community (OGC) GeoSciML

How is GeoSciML development organised? GeoSciML is being developed by a working group under the auspices of the IUGS Commission for the Management & Application of Geoscience Information (CGI) There is no external funding – participants fund themselves

Task Groups Design Task Group –Design GeoSciML as a Geography Markup Language (GML) schema for sharing geological information Use cases & Requirements Task Group –develop technical goals for GeoSciML by describing new use-cases and requirementsGeoSciML Implementation Testbed Task Group –Demonstrate GeoSciML using Web Feature and Web Mapping Services Service Architecture Task Group –Develop the formal architecture required to implement services that deliver the use cases Outreach & Technical Assistance –Responsible for providing advice and assistance to direct collaborators, assisting them to deploy conformant GeoSciML servicesGeoSciML Concept Definitions Task Group –Design the vocabulary (content) services that meet the schema requirements

Who is involved? GA (Australia) CSIRO (Australia) VGS (Australia) BRGM (France) GSC (Canada) SGU (Sweden) USGS (USA) AZGS (USA) BGS (UK) GSJ (Japan) APAT (Italy)

Web Resources IUGS Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information (CGI) home page GeoSciML home page iugs.org/tech_collaboration/data_model/downloads.htmlhttp:// iugs.org/tech_collaboration/data_model/downloads.html GeoSciML schemas, documentation and vocabularies Version 2 - Release Candidate 2 (ie, the schema used for the GeoSciML Testbed) Version 2 - Release Candidate 3 (ie, revised schema released for comment) GeoSciML TWiki bHome bHome

Status GeoSciML Release Candidate (RC) 2 used in Testbed 3 As a result of the Testbed some model changes made leading to RC 3 Some new tests will now be carried on model Aim to release GeoSciML 2.0 in December (for AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco)

Can you get involved? Yes!! All development is carried out on an open- access Twiki which anyone can read You need a password to participate in the discussions (edit pages). If you want one mail me: Development meetings are by invitation and open to those active in the Twiki discussions