1. Introduction to the CGI - aims, activities and progress Kristine Asch, CGI Chair

2. CGI is ……. The Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information CGI is a Commission of IUGS CGI is the successor to COGEOINFO What is CGI?

3. CGI is ……. The Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information CGI is a Commission of IUGS CGI is the successor to COGEOINFO What is CGI?

4. Mission “ To enable the global exchange of knowledge of geoscience information and systems” Aims Provide the means for transferring knowledge on geoscience information and systems Assist international dissemination of best practice in Geoscience Information Stimulate and support initiatives which are developing standards Play a position in the international geoscience information community and represent IUGS on geoscience information matters

5. CGI is a body which is for all interested in geology and information People in.... Geological Surveys Universities Commercial companies Local and Central Government Societies and clubs

6. CGI COUNCIL Carlos Asato, Argentina Kristine Asch, Germany (Chair) John Broome, Canada Sergei Cherkasov, Russia Simon Cox, Australia Max Fernandez, Belgium (Treasurer) Ian Jackson, UK (Secretary General) Anna-Karren Nguno, Namibia Fran ç ois Robida, France Dave Soller, USA Koji Wakita, Japan

7. CGI MEMBERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE WORLD 126 registered members in 43 countries worldwide

8. CGI Action Plan for 2004-2008 Map and communicate existing geoscience information bodies. Link information bodies with common needs. Facilitate relevant outreach workshops Refine multi-lingual thesaurus. Develop a framework for ratifying and promoting geoscience information standards. Promote and encourage data exchange standards.

9. CGI Working Groups Interoperability Working Group (ex-gDMIC) GeoSciML Design, Service Deployment, Testbed, Service Arcitecture Task Group – John Laxton, Simon Cox, Boyan Broderic, Francois Robida (Canada, UK, Australia, France) Multi-Lingual Thesaurus Working Group (MTG) – Joachim Gersemann (Germany) Regional Working Group in South East Asia – Koji Wakita (Japan) Regional Working Group in Russia (proposed)

10. Objectives of the GeoSciML working group develop a conceptual geoscience data model, based on on existing data models implement an agreed subset of this model in an agreed schema language implement an XML encoding of the model subset based on GML (Geography Markup Language), Open Geospatial Consortium, and XXML (Xploration and Mining ML), CSIRO,AU GeoSciML: GeoScience Markup Language develop a testbed to illustrate the use of the data model for interchange identify areas that require standardised classifications in order to enable interchange

11. www.cgi-iugs.org

12. CGI 2004 –2008 Action Plan - progress A database of geoscience information bodies and their contacts and their mandates has been produced and is on-line CGI and the IAMG have agreed to collaborate on conference sessions, publications and test beds for Geo-information developments Global geoscience data model and mark-up language is in development A reconnaissance Outreach Workshop on geoscience information is being organised for the 21 st Colloquium on African Geology in Maputo, Mozambique, in July CGI was asked by the President of IUGS to provide advice and guidance on a Web-based "portal"- a communications and shared service facility for all the international GeoUnions

13.  To develop a definitive and comprehensive thesaurus for the geosciences  Linking with definitions of geoscience terms,  consistent across a range of languages,  widely available and ... and free of charge,  easy to use,  capable of implementation as a digital database  and Web-accessible. Major aims: CGI Working Group: MTG working group “Mulilingual Thesaurus of Geosciences” Multilingual Thesaurus of Geosciences