leverage and delegation in developing an information model for geology

Leverage and Delegation in Developing an Information Model for Geology

Simon Cox

Research Scientist

14 December 2007

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

Outline

• GeoSciML scope, its community of interest• Methodology & platform: geospatial standards• Delegation within GeoSciML• Extensions from GeoScML• Conclusions


GeoSciML

• A language for exchange of geoscience information• UML logical model• XML document format

• Scope: interpreted and observed goelogy• MappedFeature, GeologicUnit, GeologicStructure, Fossil, Geologic

timescale, Borehole, Observation, etc

i.e. information required to maintain geologic maps

• More detail: see poster IN53A-0949


E.g. GeologicUnit


E.g. Borehole

• More detail: • The GeoSciML Logical Model - IN53A-0949 (poster)


Immediate governance arrangements

• IUGS Commission for Geoscience Information• Active participants:

• GSC, USGS, BGS, BRGM, SGU, GA, GSV, GSJ, APAT + CSIRO

• Documentation + discussion: • https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/CGIModel/GeoSciML

• Model and schema:• https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/subversion/GeoSciML/

https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/CGIModel/GeoSciML

https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/subversion/GeoSciML/


Framework

• Geoscience is largely geospatial→ Use geospatial information standards for basic framework

• ISO 19100 standards• UML for model design• Standard treatments for geometry, time, fields, coordinate systems• Meta-model for “features”• XML encoding rule – “Geography Markup Language”

• OGC information and service models• Standard treatment for Observations & Measurements• Standard http interfaces – WMS, WFS, SOS


E.g. MappedFeature

• ISO 19109 Feature Model

• ISO 19107 Geometry

• ISO 19115 Metadata

• OGC 07-002 Sampling Model


Internal delegation

• GeoSciML provides data structure• E.g. LithostratigraphicUnit is a kind of GeologicFeature with the

properties “preferredAge”, “classifier”, “beddingPattern” etc

• Property values are scoped to an explicit scale• i.e. timescale, stratigraphic index, units of measure may use a

localized scale or dictionary


E.g. localized vocabularies within standard structures

<gsml:ChronostratigraphicUnit>

<gml:name>Castlemaine Group - Lancefieldian</gml:name>

<gml:name>Ocl</gml:name>

<gsml:observationMethod>

<gsml:CGI_TermValue>

<gsml:value codeSpace="urn:cgi:classifierScheme:GSV:ObservationMethods"> published description</gsml:value>

</gsml:CGI_TermValue>

</gsml:observationMethod>

<gsml:purpose>instance</gsml:purpose>

<gsml:rank codeSpace="urn:cgi:classifierScheme:GSV:Rank"> Formation</gsml:rank>

...

</gsml:ChronostratigraphicUnit>


Extensibility

• Related communities are already building specializations on top of GeoSciML

• GroundWaterML – see IN53C-03 • “Aquifer” specializes GeologicUnit

• GeochronML – see IN53C-02 • Specialized specimens and

observation-procedures


Extensibility methodology

• Same pattern as GeoSciML’s specialization of ISO & O&M …


Key points

• GeoSciML both uses, and contributes to, a distributed governance framework for geoscience information

• UML/XML framework allows delegated governance• UML packages (XML namespaces) reflect system boundaries

discrete governance arrangements• Markup conventions support late-binding of selected elements (esp.

vocabularies and scales)

• Understand the scope and reach of your community• Only maintain the elements that are:

a. important to you

b. not governed by someone else

• Enable extensions to your model• Publish re-usable components in http repository

• e.g. XMI of UML model; XML Schema

• Maintain your components in an orderly way• Don’t cause surprises!

Contact UsPhone: 1300 363 400 or +61 3 9545 2176

Email: [email protected] Web: www.csiro.au

Thank you

Exploration & MiningSimon CoxResearch Scientist

Phone: 08 6436 8639Email: [email protected]: www.seegrid.csiro.au

leverage and delegation in developing an information model for geology

Science