1. OGC Standards for Geoscience - Geoinformatics 2008 -
George Percivall
Chief Architect, OGC
Copyright © 2008, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

2. OGC Alliance Partnerships A Critical Resource for Advancing Standards
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
COMCARE
Digital Geospatial Information Working Group (DGIWG)
Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI)
International Organization for Standards (ISO)
OASIS
Object Management Group (OMG)
Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)
Web3D
Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization
International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI)
IEEE GRSS
IEEE Technical Committee 9 (Sensor Web)
National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
Taxonomic Data Working Group (TDWG)
Others
Geospatial interoperability is our mission and our expertise. OGC has alliances with other major standards and professional organizations to assure that geospatial interoperability is consistently addressed across the broader IT community. There is a growing body of internet standards that employ OGC standards (such as OGC Geography Markup Language) to consistently define and address “location” across the internet and wireless.
Copyright © 2007, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

3. OGC Standards support of the Geoscience
OGC standards were developed to support requirements of the Geosciences, e.g., atmosphere, biogeo, climate, cryosphere, geology, geodesy, hydrology, oceans.
OGC Implementations in GeoSciences
Geo-interface for Atmosphere, Land, Earth, and Ocean netCDF (GALEON) Interoperability Experiment
Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) in several OWS Testbeds
Oceans Science Interoperability Experiment
GEO Architecture Implementation
OGC Geography Markup Language (GML)
Copyright © 2008, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

4. Interoperability as a science
Interoperability is not just about data, technology or best practices… it’s about the intellectual perspectives each group or individual brings to any project, and how we frame our cognitive needs and expressions
We suggest that the science of interoperability requires integrative study of these fields of inquiry:
Georeferencing, having a well defined spatio-temporal reference system
Semantics and ontologies , including harmonizing or mediating domain data & dynamic models, metadata, and means of accessing datasets efficiently
Human cognition and interaction in a digital environment – filtering and understanding one’s choices amidst over-abundant and noisy information
High performance computing, enabling real-time modeling & analysis and semantics mediation
These research areas are all being studied in considerable depth, but not often taken together for cross-disciplinary synergy
The “Four Pillars” of interop science:
Geodesy– studies have shown that at least 80% of information in databases has a location aspect. Location is an application-neutral way of indexing information. Achieving a consistent approach for representing location is immensely important for making scientific data interoperable.
Semantics & ontologies– we will never finish the Tower of Babel. We need to develop tools for mediating between information communities, and accept the need to use them.
HPC– just being able to run bigger programs faster is useful. But if we can use high computing power to achieve semantic mediation of the terabytes/petabytes a day in real time, then we will enable a step change in our ability to understand and communicate with each other.
Cognition-Interaction– this is not just about GUI design. Studies have shown that the manner in which data is presented has a lot to do with the user’s ability to understand the information and to realize their choices. This is very important if we’re to solve the problems just mentioned.
I’m not trying to push the envelope on the research agenda of these individual topics, they’re each getting a lot of attention from very smart people. I want to push the envelope on the integration of all these topics in a single project.

5. Geospatial Interoperability from sensing to decision support
OGC Web Services
SWE
GPW
GDS
Measurements
Observations
Features
Recommendations
SWE = Sensor Web Enablement
GPW = Geo-Processing Workflow
GDS = Geospatial Decision-support Services

6. Sensor Web Enablement (SWE)
Copyright © 2008, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

7. OGC SWE Functions Discovery of sensors, observations and processes
Determination of sensor’s capabilities and observation’s reliability
Access to parameters and processes that allow on-demand processing of observations
Retrieval of real-time or time-series observations in standard encodings
Tasking of sensors and simulators to acquire observations of interest
Subscription to and publishing of alerts based on sensor or simulation observations
Quickly discover sensors and sensor data (secure or public) that can meet my needs – location, observables, quality, ability to task

8. SWE Standards and Specifications
Information Models and Schema
Sensor Model Language (SensorML) – sensor descriptions, georegistration, response models, post measurement processing
Observations and Measurements (O&M) – Core models and schema for observations
TransducerML – adds system integration and real-time streaming clusters of observations
Service Models
Sensor Observation Service - Access Observations for a sensor or sensor constellation, and optionally, the associated sensor and platform data
Sensor Alert Service – Subscribe to alerts based upon sensor observations
Sensor Planning Service – Request collection feasibility and task sensor system for desired observations
Web Notification Service –Manage message dialogue between client and Web service(s) for long duration (asynchronous) processes
Sensor Registries – Discover sensors and sensor observations
As previously mentioned the two main concepts that enable a sensor web are…
Built upon OGC, Web and Internet standards

9. Web Processing Service (WPS)
WPS-client
Communication over the web using HTTP
GetCapabilities
WPS
DescribeProcess
Execute
Algorithms Repository
Data Handler Repository … … … …
Algorithm 1
Data Handler A
Web Processing Service

10. GPW Thread Enterprise Viewpoint – Grid-Enabled
Grid Infrastructure to support:
Virtualizations
SLA Management
Optimization Framework
Security Framework
Monitoring & Analytics
Resource Management
Execution Management
Low variability
Sensors
Grid
Infrastructure
Wf Engine (BPEL)
Wf Engine (RESTful API)
Grid-Enabled
OGC Web Services
OGC Web Services:
Locally managed
Locally customized
Highly variable
Clients
OGC Web Services
CS/W
CS/W 10

11. GPW - WPS Profiles
Conflation Service – implement a WPS profile service to fully support GML encoded data including use of external “rules” registry
Continue enhancement of “new” services as WPS profiles
WPS Grid Profile 11

12. Geography Markup Language
GML Encoding Specification
XML grammar for encoding geographic information
Includes features, coordinate reference systems, geometry, topology, time, units of measure. etc.
Consistent with ISO series of standards.
GML is also known as ISO 19136
Profiles of GML – enable simpler clients & servers
GML Point Profile
GeoRSS
Simple Features Profile of GML
CityGML
GML in JPEG 2000 for Geographic Imagery Encoding
Numerous GML Application Schemas

13. GML Application Schemas

14. GPW - Schema Development & ShapeChange Deliverables
Components/Tools
Enhance ShapeChange for full support of 3D and topology
GML Validation Tool using Schematron constraints
Enhance ShapeChange to create XSLT scripts to support SLD rules
OWS-5 Application Schema Processing:
Flow of Modeling Information
Application Schemas & Reports
GML Application Schema for Urban MSD
GML Application Schema Processing ER 14

15. GDS Fundamental Concept
Decision maker at a single workstation, identifies resources anywhere, accesses the resources, brings into operational context, and integrates with other resources to support decision process
GDS
Client
Decision Maker/
Analyst
GeoDSS tools allow the decision maker to navigate this heterogeneous environment with minimal distraction from the issue at hand.
Goals
Exchange and access geoinfo within and across info communities
Tailor geoinfo for different communities
Build an integrated client that can assist in emergency response scenarios
Specify and build GeoVideo service and XML schemas for moving objects
Specify and implement a Feature Portrayal Service and example Symbology Encoding documents (for EMS and Mil-STD-2525B)
Access to WMS, WFS, WCS, CS/W, SOS, SPS, Workflow, Context
Feature & Coverage Portrayal in a multi-lingual, distributed services environment

16. Oceans Interoperability Experiment (Advancing OGC Best Practices for the Ocean Science Community)
Oceans Science IE – goals of this Interoperability Experiment include:
Develop Best Practices for use of Sensor Observation Service (SOS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) for the Oceans Science Community
Conduct testing of these standards to determine their capacity to address Oceans business cases.
Provide feedback to the OGC process regarding strengths and issues with OGC standards
Develop Best Practices report for release to the Oceans Community
Target date for submitting document to the OGC for discussion February 2008.
Copyright © 2007, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

17. Ocean Science Interoperability Experiment
Engages members of the Ocean-Observing community to advance their understanding and application of various OGC specifications, solidify demonstrations for Ocean Science application areas, harden software implementations, and produce candidate OGC Best Practices documents that can be used to inform the broader ocean-observing community.
Engages the OGC membership to assure that any recommendations from the OCEANS IE will properly leverage the OGC specifications.
May prompt Change Requests to the OGC Technical Committee to influence the underlying specifications.
Focus is on implementing, testing and documentation of experiences with existing specifications.
As of 22 August 2007, the OGC members that are acting as initiators of the Interoperability Experiment are:
Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA)
Texas A&M University – Academy for Advanced Telecommunications (TAMU)
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS)
Other participants and observers include:
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Columbia University-CIESIN
Mississippi State
Geosciences Australia
University of Florence
ArgonST
University of the Bundeswehr - AGI
Applied Science Associates (ASA
University of California, San Diego Supercomputer Center
Others…
Copyright © 2007, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

18. Geo-interface for Atmosphere, Land, Earth, and Ocean netCDF (GALEON) Interoperability Experiment
GALEON activity is focused on open access to atmospheric and oceanographic modeling and simulation outputs.
There are over 30 organizations (members and non-members) collaborating in this activity.
Use standard interfaces to foster interoperability between data systems used by the traditional GIS community and those in community known as the fluid Earth systems (FES, mainly oceanography and atmospheric science).
2d, or 3d, or 4d
The following is the jet stream rendered as a "solid" time-varying object in 3 spatial dimensions, communicated as a netCDF encoding, accessed via the OGC Web Coverage Service and rendered at the client.
The Climate community sees the jet stream composite animation as 5D – space (x,y,z), time and fluid dynamics are all represented in this animation.
Copyright © 2007, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

19. OGC Sensor Web Enablement (SWE)
The OGC Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) is a revolution in the discovery, assessment and control of live data sources and archived sensor data. In much the same way that HTTP standards enables exchange of any type of information on the Web, the SWE standards enables discovery, exchange, and processing of sensor observations, as well as the tasking of sensor systems. SWE standards have been implemented with sensors ranging from in-situ point sensors and ground-based radar to imaging sensors on UAVs and orbiting satellites. Recent results include an application to fires in South California and to a hurricane on the East coast of the US.
Copyright © 2008, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

20. GEOSS
A Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Earth Observing Systems
GEOSS is a global distributed system, including satellite observation systems, Global in situ networks and systems, And local and regional in situ networks.
GEOSS will deliver the benefits of EO to both data & information providers and consumers world wide.
Address the need for timely, quality, long-term, global information as a basis for sound decision making.

21. Engineering Viewpoint Architecture
Client Tier
GEO
Portal
Community
Portals
GEO Web
Site
Client Applications
Business Process Tier
GEOSS
Registries
GEOSS
Clearinghouse
Portrayal
Services
Workflow
Management
Components
Services
Standards
Community
Catalogues
Processing
Services
Other
Services
Requirements
Access Tier
GEONETCast
Data
Access
Services
Sensor
Access
Services
Model
Access
Services
Other
Services

22. GEOSS AIP Application Areas
Phase 1 – 2007 – demonstrate concept
Fires
Volcanos
Biod
Etc.
Phase 2 – – persistent exemplars
Natural Disasters
Health – Air Quality
Energy – Solar
Biodiversity
Copyright © 2008, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., All Rights Reserved.