1. Using standardised geoscience terminology via CGI-IUGS vocabularies
Mark Rattenbury
Chair, CGI-IUGS Geoscience Terminology Working Group

2. What is standardised geoscience terminology?
Lists of names and terms that describe earth features, properties, quantities, techniques and processes
These lists are collaboratively agreed upon and widely accessible

3. Why have standardised geoscience terminology?
To convey unambiguous meaning for greater understanding
To translate terms across different languages
To reduce confusion around synonymous terms
To take advantage of natural hierarchies of terms
To keep datasets current with latest agreed definitions

4. How does an outsider know this means Paleocene and not Paleozoic?
Example from a NZ geological map dataset: geological map unit age expressed as text
STRAT_AGE field for geological map units: Use International Geologic Time Scale (IGTS) units as abbreviated codes e.g. ‘lE, Ol, eMi’ signifies a unit formed between Late Eocene and Early Miocene. A search query for ‘Ol’ (Oligocene) will return this unit.
How does an outsider know this means Paleocene and not Paleozoic?

5. [end of the Cretaceous is now 66.0 Ma]
Example from a NZ geological map dataset: geological map unit age expressed numerically
ABS_MIN and ABS_MAX default to upper bound and lower bound absolute age of applied IGTS time units in STRAT_AGE/AGE field.
How do you keep up to date with the International Geological Timescale?
[end of the Cretaceous is now 66.0 Ma]

6. You should retain your own terms and well as incorporating standards
+ GeoSciML age
STRAT_AGE , AGE, ABS_MIN and ABS_MAX fields as for QMAP With the addition of key CGI fields and terms so that the dataset is GeoSciML Lite-compliant.
You should retain your own terms and well as incorporating standards

7. CGI age terms
The CGI timescale version replicates the authoritative source, the International Geological Timescale, which is only available as a PDF document or JPEG file! Note the CGI age is now out of date.

8. CGI-IUGS Geoscience Terminology Working Group
Supports geoscience information interoperability through terminology development
Develops and enables vocabularies for use in geoscience information systems
Liaises with semantic interoperability groups in related communities
Currently 26 members from Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden and USA
Wider participation through other CGI working groups and OneGeology communications
Three annual face-to-face meetings (St Petersburg, Tucson, Ispra) and through shared Google Group folders and list

9. geology model development, OGC Standards Working Group
GeoSciML
geology model development,
OGC Standards Working Group
EarthResource ML
mineral resource model development, CGI Working Group
Geoscience Terminology Working Group:
vocabulary development and update
Multi-lingual versioning
Other groups requiring semantic interoperability for geoscience themes

10. CGI age terms

11. Vocabularies driven by data interoperability requirements e. g
Vocabularies driven by data interoperability requirements e.g. GeoSciML, ERML

12. Proposed and/or required
classificationMethodUsedValue
commodityCodeValue
earthResourceExpressionValue
earthResourceFormValue
earthResourceMaterialRoleValue
earthResourceShapeValue
endusePotentialValue
environmentalImpactValue
explorationActivityTypeValue
explorationResultValue
geologicHistoryRelationshipTerm
importanceValue
linearDirectedCode
mineralOccurrenceTypeValue
mineStatusValue
miningActivityTypeValue
processingActivityTypeValue
rawMaterialRoleValue
reserveCategoryValue
resourceCategoryValue
samplingFrame
UNFC_Value_2009
wasteStorageTypeValue
alterationTypeTerm
compositionCategory
compoundMaterialConstituentPartRoleTerm
consolidationDegree
contactCharacter
contactTypeTerm
conventionCode
descriptionPurpose
determinationMethod
eventEnvironment
eventProcessTerm
faultDeformationStyle
faultMovementSenseTerm
faultMovementTypeTerm
faultTypeTerm
featureObservationMethod
foliationTypeTerm
geneticCategory
geologicalTimescale
geologicUnitMorphology
geologicUnitPartRoleTerm
geologicUnitTypeTerm
lineationTypeTerm
lithologyConcept
mappedFeatureObservationMethod
metamorphicFacies
metamorphicGrade
orientationDeterminationMethod
particleAspectRatio
particleShape
particleTypeTerm
proportionTerm
simpleLithologyTerm
sorting
stratigraphicRankTerm
strikeDipMeasurementReportig
valueQualifier
vocabularyRelationTerm
importanceSize
mineralDepositType
miningWasterType
mineralDepositGroupValue
In review
Adopted
(pre 2011)
alterationDegree
alterationDistribution
analyticalMethodTerm
anthropogenicGeomorphologicalFeatureTypeTerm
associationType
boundaryRelationshipTerm
compositionPartRole
continuity
definingElement
definingStructureRelationshipTerm
deformationStyleTerm
exposureColor
extractionMethod
foldProfileTypeTerm
geneticModel
geochronologicEraRank
geologicSamplingMethodTerm
geologicSpecimenPreprationTerm
geologic unit lithology categories
geomorphologicRelationshipTerm
hingeLineCurvature
hingeShape
instrumentTypeTerm
interLimbAngle
limbShape
materialRelationshipType
nameOfMeasureTerm
nonDirectionalStructureTypeTerm
physicalPropertyTerm
relationRoleTerm
samplingFeatureRelation
statisticalMethodTerm
supergeneProcessType
symmetry
Adopted
(since 2012)
Proposed and/or required
ageEvent
ageSystem
beddingPattern
beddingStyle
boreholeDrillingMethodCode
boreholeInclinationCode
boreholePurposeCode
boreholeStartPointCode
colour
fabricTypeTerm
foliationIntensity
isotopicEventType
isotopicSystemName
lineationIntensity
materialClass
mineralDepositGroupValue
mineralDepositTypeValue
naturalGeomorphologicalFeatureTypeTerm
outcropCharacter
planarPolarityCode
productValue
regionalLithUnit
samplingMethod
specimenType
Draft

13. commodityCode : human-readable spreadsheet

14. explorationActivityType : human-readable spreadsheet

15. explorationActivityType : machine-readable SKOS-encoded RDF file
(Resource Description Framework XML)

16. http://resource. geosciml
Geoscience Australia are assuming server host responsibility any day now

17. Ultimately its about making spatial data understandable

18. multi-lingual
hierarchical
defined

19. Distributed servers using vocabularies in action

20. Distributed servers using vocabularies in action