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OneGeology
IC GS
A project to make web-accessible the best available geological map data worldwide
at a scale of about 1:1 million, as a Geological Survey contribution to the
International Year of Planet Earth
What is OneGeology?
Contents of this presentation• The principles behind OneGeology• The objectives• Drivers behind idea• How do we plan to do it? • Where are we now? • Who is involved? • What are the challenges?• Summary
The principles behind OneGeology
The givens
• geological map data are essential to societal well-being and development
• society has contributed through taxation for the geological map data that exists and they have a right of access to it
The principles behind OneGeology
• make accessible the best geological map data they have available now
– that means map data which currently exists right now - not delaying access waiting for some hypothetically perfect, complete and consistent mapping
• work towards consistent standards for data and access and thus a consistent data architecture and schematic interoperability
– and ultimately as much consistency in semantics/classification and mapping as is practically possible
• enhance and increase use of their data
Geological surveys and geoscientists around the world have a responsibility to:
The main objectives of OneGeology
• Stimulate a rapid increase in interoperability (ie disseminate GeoSciML further and faster)
• Making available geological map data accessible– in whatever digital format is available in the participating country
• Transferring know-how to those who need it
That means OneGeology is:• focusing on Internet access to digital data rather than paper maps
– society increasingly wants its information on-demand and thus digitally
• adopting an approach that recognizes that different nations have differing abilities to participate.
– Some are very well developed and provisioned, others barely have stable power supplies, let alone equipment and know-how .
• facilitating the transfer of technical expertise and data between nations– Cutting the learning curve and costs to nations with limited resources but for whom the
need for accessible geological data and the benefits they bring are just as great.
A crucial point
• OneGeology is about schematic interoperability first, ie accessibility without geological reconciliation
• The first objective is not about harmonising geological units and scientific classification across frontiers - that is something to be considered for the long term
Schematic interoperability means:• OneGeology aims to make accessible geological map data in a common data format
without harmonizing the content and interpretation between territories. • This will allow geological mapping to be accessible for any area of the world (cf Google-
Earth)• These map data may contain national "boundary faults" caused by data not being
harmonized. • But this pragmatic approach will overcome the intractable difficulties of projects which
have gone for complete data consistency
The drivers (1)• The UN General Assembly of 1997 (Agenda 21) urged the world to decrease the gaps in
the availability, quality, standardisation and accessibility of data between nations.• The need to understand our global environment to solve global environmental problems at
a global scale.• International Year of Planet Earth and the fact that geological surveys were looking for a
tangible way to contribute• Around the world each geological survey had a treasure chest of data that just needed
unlocking• The geoscience community needs to accelerate development of basic digital geological
map standards to improve interoperability, sharing and accessibility of data and ……
The drivers (2)• …the great progress of GeoSciML, which gives OneGeology the “technical engine” and in return
GeoSciML the “wheels” it needs to spread • The development of Spatial Data Infrastructures• The lessons learned in making digital map cover available and accessible in UK and Europe • The availability of robust computing/information systems• Create an aspirational benchmark for all nations• Transfer know-how to developing countries and produce maps/data to attract interest and
investment. • A project that could involve and focus all geological surveys• Raise the profile of geoscience.• The Google Earth paradigm
How do we plan to do it?• Get as many nations/surveys as possible to make a commitment to deliver their piece of
the global geological jigsaw puzzle
• The target scale is 1:1 million, but the project will be pragmatic and accept a range of scales from 1:500 000 to 1:5 million
• Work with the best available data - raster or vector
• The concept is a distributed model - Geological Surveys will provide/serve the data for their territories to a web portal.
• The project must be closely interlinked with the development and rollout of the geoscience data model and exchange language – GeoSciML
• All those who have expressed interest have been invited to a kick-off meeting in Brighton, UK, March 2007
• This will initiate the project and agree on high level specifications for the geological and information systems and project governance.
• Plan is for first test datasets to be available 2007. Add data through 2008 present first results at the IGC in 2008 and keep adding data……
The basic OneGeology proposition
• 53 Nations/Geological Surveys have expressed interest in OneGeology• 6 global bodies and 2 other international geoscience organisations are
supporting OneGeology• Draft MoU agreed between the 6 global bodies to create the essential
international umbrella/credentials• Kick-off Workshop organised in Brighton, UK for 12-16 March• 87 Participants from 42 Nations attending the Kick-off Workshop• BGS are setting aside A$ 200 000 to move project forward in 2007/08
Where are we now?
• Understand the visions and concerns of the potential participants • Develop consensus and share understanding of what OneGeology is• Produce a high-level project plan and schedule• Recommendations for project governance• Communicate project status• Review what map/data content is available in participant nations.• Define formats/ways to participate (including participation strategy for nations needing assistance)• Develop consensus on a high-level geological specification• Develop consensus on data input (data structure, data flow, etc)• Develop consensus on data output/access interface• Draft communication and recruitment plan • End the Workshop with broad participation in place (and a happy bonded team!)
Brighton Workshop Objectives/Success Criteria
Principles Specification Design
Hearts/Minds/Politics
Science and technology
OneGeology project stages
The UK Workshop
Plan and Develop Implementation
International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE)www.yearofplanetearth.orgCommission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW)http://ccgm.free.fr/
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)www.iugs.org/
International Lithosphere Programhttp://sclilp.gfz-potsdam.de/
International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM)www.iscgm.org
Who is supporting OneGeology?
IC GSInternational Consortium of Geological Surveyswww.icogs.org
International Bodies
UNESCOhttp://portal.unesco.org/en/
EuroGeoSurveyshttp://www.eurogeosurveys.org/
Surveys and organisationsWho is involved?
Who is involved?Nations
What are the problems• Not getting the message across about what OneGeology is/is not• Diverse views of what OneGeology should be and do
– map or interoperability, simple or sophisticated• Encouraging participation• Perceived overlap/conflict with other international geoscience initiatives• Ownership and “geo-politics”• Internal national complications
– (eg which survey/institute should be the representative; priority of OneGeology against other tasks)• Range of participant capability • Where will the funds/resources come from?• Sustaining the initiative
challenges and opportunities
OneGeology will ……
• increase standards/tools take-up (GeoSciML)
• help to make existing data accessible to the world (adding value to existing resources)
• transfer know-how
One Geology is about ……• pragmatism (accept what is given)
not about geological harmonization
any format: paper/raster/vector
1:1M is the target scale
Summary
Acknowledgements
John Broome, ESS, Canada
Harvey Thorleifson, AASG, USA
Kathryn Bull, BGS, UK
Jenny Forster, BGS, UK
Katy Booth, BGS, UK
Marie Cowan, BGS, UK
(OneGeology Workshop Organising Team)
