The CGI: Advancing International Geoscience Data Interoperability

John Broome, International Union of Geological Sciences, Canada

Access to geoscience data is often crucial in protecting human life, health and assets, and sustaining our environment and resources. As in most scientific disciplines, information technology is having a dramatic impact on the way data are being captured, processed, and disseminated and is seen as the key to future societal exploitation of geological knowledge.

Perhaps more than other scientific disciplines, the geoscience community has been plagued by a lack of internationally-accepted data standards with the result that geoscience data and information often cannot be easily exchanged and integrated.  To improve this situation, in 2004 the International Unions of Geological Sciences (IUGS) established the "Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information" http://www.cgi-iugs.org  (CGI).
 
In addition to occupying an accepted position in the international geoscience information community, representing IUGS on geoscience information matters, and collaborating with other scientific and industry standards groups; the CGI provides the means for sharing knowledge on geoscience information and systems, stimulating international dissemination of best practice, and supporting standards development initiatives.

Addressing the lack of international standards is a high priority.  The problem is not a lack of standards, but a lack of internationally-accepted ones.  Geological data are a complex combination of information describing lithology, age, physical structure, chemical properties, and genesis that are usually standardized in a regional or national context.  While recognizing the need for interoperability, organizations have invested in customized data management systems that support local requirements, complicating the implementation of new standards.  Recognizing this problem, the CGI approach to interoperability is based on development of core standards combined with standard XML interchange formats.   This non-intrusive approach will allow retention of local systems but achieve interoperability through translation of data to standard CGI interchange formats delivered through OGC-standard services.


Keywords: interoperability, geoscience, standards, culture, international