A scientific approach to developing Geological Information Systems

Abstract

Traditionally, geoscientific data collected by GeoScience Victoria (GSV) were held in databases focussed on providing the content for maps and their accompanying legends. A wealth of information would be stored in free-text legend fields or geological reports. Analysis of these data using other software is difficult and this approach can lead to inconsistent or contradictory systems. GSV has redesigned its geological information systems, based on a data model that describes true geological entities and concepts. Consequently, information stored by GSV can be more readily used for a variety of purposes and by a variety of users, and the information model is not constrained by the implementation requirements of a particular vendor. Research was conducted to identify models generated by other groups or agencies before adopting the North American Geologic Map Data Model - Conceptual Model 1.0. This model provided the foundation for a logical model explicitly defining the geoscientific concepts with respect to GSV's business requirements. The geoscientific application of the Geography Mark-up Language, GeoSciML, was used as a reference during the logical modelling. An extensible pair of aspatial and spatial databases was constructed. Web-services, including Open GIS Consortium (OGC) compliant web map services and web feature services, will be used to deliver data to client applications. These databases will enable GSV to conduct it's own work and deliver its data to external parties using international standard exchange languages such as GeoSciML.