Spatial Data Discovery - Integrating a spatial search service with a globe viewer

Abstract

Led by Google Earth, globe viewers provide a compelling approach to the visual integration of geospatial data in resource exploration. However, finding and evaluating data from both internal data stores and the vast quantities of data available on the Internet has remained a challenge. Finding spatial data requires building a catalog of data services and associated metadata, from which high-speed spatial and text searches can be performed to discover data of interest. Once discovered, evaluation of that data demands responsive visualization and metadata review. This paper discusses the development of a server-based spatial data crawler that builds a catalog of spatial data services on the internet. The challenges of scaling large catalogs, query performance optimization and the delivery of metadata are addressed. We demonstrate how this service has been integrated into an open-source and standards-based globe viewer for use in exploration today.