Geological Data Harmonisation

This self-learning module reviews the meaning of geological spatial data with respect to the INSPIRE directive and other International Geological standard. The module makes an overview of GeoSciML (version 3.2) and GE INSPIRE data definitions, including examples of how to map geologic information on those data models and the use of CGI vocabularies to improve the semantic contents of data in order to facilitate the harmonisation process. In addition, the module describes a wrapper that map and transform data coming from web services to standards such as GE INSPIRE and/or GeoSciML. The module also describes the specific content of an INSPIRE compliant geological dataset by showing some examples at various scale. In order to illustrate harmonisation issues, examples of non-harmonized data covering areas along the political boundaries between Italy and France and Italy and Slovenia are shown.

• Introduction to GeoSciML and GE Data Model

The component makes an overview of GeoSciML (version 3.2) and GE INSPIRE, including examples of how to map geologic information to these data models, the major differences between the two schemas and the use of CGI vocabularies to improve the semantic contents of data and to facilitate the harmonisation process.

• How set-up geologic web service using a wrapper system

This component shows the use of a wrapper to map and transform data in web services format to standards like GE INSPIRE and/or GeoSciML schema. Moreover, this component describes how to configure the wrapper and web services responses in standard encoding format (GML 3.2.1).

• Working on Spatial Geological Data Specification

The component describes the specific content of an INSPIRE compliant dataset showing some examples at various scale, focusing on non-harmonization problem encountered during the joining of the maps. The component also describes the meaning, structure and the content of the geological data specification pertaining of the One Geology-Europe project, which was used as base for the successive development into INSPIRE data model.

• Harmonisation issues: problems and solution in the cross-border area

This component shows examples of non-harmonized data covering areas along the political boundaries between Italy and France and Italy and Slovenia. The component doesn’t aim to describe solutions to the problems encountered but it gives ideas about the approach to maintain to deal with geological data harmonisation, especially with cartographic geological data.

The trainees will understand the problems related to the merging of various geological maps and data sets, identify typical problems encountered during the data harmonisation procedure and to propose solutions to these problems.

The course is devoted to geologists, GIS professionals, graduates and post graduates who aim for an initial understanding of geological map/data harmonisation.

Data Harmonisation, Basic Web Services, INSPIRE Network Service, Basic concepts of XML and GML, Data Specification, Semantic web knowledge and basic Geological mapping criteria.