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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

E.g. GeologicUnit

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

E.g. Borehole

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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/

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

E.g. MappedFeature

• ISO 19109 Feature Model

• ISO 19107 Geometry

• ISO 19115 Metadata

• OGC 07-002 Sampling Model

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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>

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

Extensibility methodology

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

CSIRO AGU Fall 2007 – IN52A-05 Cox

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: enquiries@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au

Thank you

Exploration & MiningSimon CoxResearch Scientist

Phone: 08 6436 8639Email: Simon.Cox@csiro.auWeb: www.seegrid.csiro.au