A Scientific Approach to Developing Geological Information Systems Alistair Ritchie, GeoScience Victoria

A Scientific Approach to A Scientific Approach to Developing Geological Developing Geological

Information SystemsInformation Systems

Alistair Ritchie, GeoScience Victoria

Developing Geological Information Systems

Co-authorsBruce Simons – GeoScience Victoria

Linda Bibby – GeoScience Victoria

Gavin Stilgoe – MPD Information Development

Acknowledgements

Boyan Brodaric – Geological Survey of Canada

Bruce Johnston – US Geological Survey

Brett Miller – MPD Information Development

Stephen Richard – Arizona and US Geological Surveys


Introduction

•Redesigned geological information systems

•Address data management problems

•Outline the development of a solution


The Problem

•Databases designed to store data for maps

•Creates “free text” problem

•Significant duplication of data

•Difficult to use for analytical purposes


Sandstone, slate: moderately to well sorted, variably rounded quartz with minor feldspar and lithic grains in quartz silt or clay matrix; minor quartz granule conglomerate; thin to very thick bedded; black fossiliferous …


Our Solution

1. Geological data model

2. Build data storage and management services

3. Client systems


Conceptual Model

Foundation for our work

Adopted the North American Data Model

•Robust geological approach

•Technology-neutral

GeologicalUnit


Logical Model

Content constrained by

•North American Data Model

•GSV requirements

•Analysis of existing systems

•Data exchange standards

GeologicalFeature

GeologicalUnit

- induration: QualifiedTerm- freshColour: QualifiedTerm- landform: QualifiedTerm- morphology: QualifiedTerm- outcropCharacter: QualifiedTerm- petrophysics: GUPetrophysics [0..*]- weatheredColour: QualifiedTerm- weatheringCharacter: QualifiedTerm::GeologicalFeature- descriptionPurpose: TermValue- genesis: GeologicalEvent [0..*] {ordered}- product: TermValue [0..*]- project: TermValue- source: Source [1..*]- textDescription: String(255) [0..1]



Geological ConceptsGeological Concepts


Geological Geological RelationshipRelationshipss


Geological Geological FeaturesFeatures


Geological Geological PropertiesProperties


Spatial RepresentationSpatial Representation


Ywp

LITHDESC:Hornblende-biotite quartz diorite and quartz monzonite, hornblende-biotite basalt, hornblende-augite-biotite quartz gabbro, kaersutite-phlogopite peridotite: fine-grained, hydrothermal alteration common; fresh but often weathered to orange sandy clay

Old System


Ywp

Unb

New System

Ywp-Unb :GeologicalConceptRelationship

type = intrusive relationshipparticipant01Role = Ywp: intrudesparticipant02Role = Unb: intruded by

Ywp :GeologicalUnit

type = Lithodemic Unitname = Ywp - Woods Point Dyke Swarmrank = intrusionstratNo = 20527

Ywp :GeologicalUnitFeature

physicalCharacter = morphology: dyke

Ywp :CompoundMaterial

lithology = basaltic rockconsolidationDegree = consolidatedcolour = 5YR61weatheringCharacter = fresh

Ywp :GUComponentPart

proportion = 95%role = part of

+composition

+description

+material


Ywp

Unb

New SystemYwp :GeologicalUnit








+composition

+description

+material

GeologicalConceptRelationship


Ywp-Unb :


Ywp

Unb









+composition

+description

+material



Ywp-Unb :


Ywp

Unb









+composition

+description

+material



Ywp-Unb :


Information Systems

Services

DataStorage

Clients


Data Storage

Single logical database

ArcSDE stores spatial representations

Oracle stores geological data


Data Storage





Data Storage





Services Layer

Data management

Presentation

Data delivery


Services Layer

Data management

Presentation

Data delivery


Services Layer

Data management

Presentation

Data delivery


Services Layer

Data management

Presentation

Data delivery


Client Systems

Project specific

•Web browser

•ArcGIS

External

•GIS applications

•Industry/Public systems

•…


Client Systems

Project specific

•Web browser

•ArcGIS

External

•GIS applications


•…


Client Systems

Project specific

•Web browser

•ArcGIS

External

•GIS applications


•…


Conclusions

Redesigned geological information systems

•Data storage based on “real” geology

•Reusable multi-purpose data

•Reduced impact of software changes

•Data delivery in standardised, open formats


QUESTIONS?

Documents

A Scientific Approach to Developing Geological Information Systems Alistair Ritchie, GeoScience Victoria