Speaker:
Mark Rattenbury

Date(s):
03 Sep 2012 to 03 Sep 2012

Topic:

Information about the geological substrate on which we build our cities, support our infrastructure and extract important natural resources is becoming much more accessible. Digital data describing 2D and 3D geology are increasingly being served in real time as Web Map Services (WMS) and Web Feature Services (WFS) to end users for their own applications and for their own requirements. GNS Science is contributing its high quality geoscience information through these services to New Zealand’s nascent Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) being coordinated by Land Information New Zealand. The geoscience datasets range from geological map data to geochemical and analytical databases to earthquake location and characterisation. These data help define geological hazards such as active faults, landslides and earthquake-susceptible low strength soils, and assist with the exploration and management of geological resources such as groundwater, geothermal energy, petroleum, coal and minerals. The SDI enables integration of GNS Science’s data with digital data served by many other organisations using GIS and other software.  In the geoscience realm alone these data are being used for modelling of resource prospectivity and management as well as geological hazard and risk.

Essential for successful public consumption of these data are clear and self-explanatory structures and terminology. GNS Science is adopting international standards around (multi-lingual) technical vocabularies and data exchange models. Much of the impetus for this work has come from the international OneGeology project that has accelerated delivery of geological-based web services globally together with parallel development in data interoperability through the Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information (CGI).  A 1:1 million Geological Map of New Zealand dataset has been available as a WMS and WFS through the OneGeology portal since 2008 and many more geological map services covering regional and urban areas are coming on stream.

 

 

Download the Presentation [PowerPoint 2007 Presentation - 14.43 MB]