GeoSciML: Enabling the Exchange of Geological Map Data

Abstract

The CGI data model working group have established an initial geology data model and XML based exchange language to accommodate geological map data, referred to as GeoSciML. The language is based on prior work carried out at North American, European and Australian geological survey and research organisations. Unified Modelling Language (UML) has been used as a design aid for capturing the geological concepts and their properties. The UML model has then been converted to the GML-conformant GeoSciML. The design of GeoSCiML meets the short-term goal of accommodating the geoscience information presented on geological maps, as well as being fully extensible to include the full range of geological concepts covered by the geosciences. To demonstrate the ability of GeoSciML to deliver data via web feature services, a small subset has been selected as a testbed. This testbed will deliver lithostratigraphic units, boreholes, faults, contacts and compound materials from different national geological surveys.