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Geological Information System Switzerland
SGM 2008, Lugano Data acquisition,
Geo-processing, GIS, Digital mapping and 3D
visualisation
Nils Oesterling, Andreas Kühni, Rainer Kündig
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Outline

• Background
• The Geological Information System Switzerland
• Outlook

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What is a Geological Information System?

• ... a central gateway to all available data,
  metadata, information and knowledge related to
  geology
• Web-based access
• Based on data, information, etc.
• Contribution to the NSDI Switzerland
• For the Swiss Geo-Community (universities,
  commissions, cantonal and federal offices,
  private, etc.)

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Why do we need such an information system?

• Heterogeneously distributed data
• Accessibility and quality restricted -gt
  centralise access and ensure quality
• Complex organisation of the Swiss Geo-Community
• Who is doing what? -gt clarify
• Public awareness of Geology is restricted
• What is geology? -gt Dinos, volcanoes and
  earthquakes? - or even more?

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1) Geological data

• Demand for (digital) geological datasets (vector
  format) is growing
• Increasing number of natural hazards
• Growing importance of environment and natural
  resources
• Growing number of constructions and need for
  energy supply

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1) Geological data (cont.)

• One task - many data
• Data heterogeneously distributed
• Conventional distribution is slow
• (ftp, CD by mail)
• Centralise accessibility to all data and
  information
• Ensure data quality (reliability)
• Supply data via web-services for immediate access
  and use

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2) Swiss Geo-Community - today
Major Projects
Universities
Societies and Associations
Geo-Consultants
Geological Surveys
Commissions
Cantons
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2) Swiss Geo-Community - in future
Cantons
Major Projects
Geological Surveys
Universities
Geological Information System CH
Geo-Consultants
Societies and Associations
Commissions
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3) Public awareness

• Public awareness of geology is poor
• Whats geology all about?
• Dinosaurs, volcanoes and earthquakes!?

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3) ... Geology is a lot more!
Energy
Environment protection
Basic research
Infrastructure
Education
Natural resources
Natural hazards
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Solution ?

• Central
• Data core
• Web-portal Web-Services
• 3 sectors
• Components
• Targetgroups Professionals, semi-professionals
  and laymen

Geological Information System Switzerland
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Components - existing

• For example
• Dataviewer _at_ swisstopo.ch
• Geo-Adresses _at_ geosciences.scnat.ch
• Geo-Jobs _at_ chgeol.org

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Components - in future

• Use functionality of the Web2.0
• OpenGeoMap - Web-application
• creating your own geological map
• Comment on existing geological maps
• Geology-Forum
• Share geological knowledge
• 3D - geological model
• Talk by Baumberger et al. (1745 Uhr)

Geological 3D model of the Mont Terri rock
laboratory
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Summary

• Built up a
• Centralised, web-based Information System for
  geology related issues
• to
• Enhance accessibility and quality of data,
  information, etc.
• Clarify the organisation of the Swiss
  Geo-Community
• Enhance public awareness of geology

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Where to go from here?

• Start project (2009)
• Develop concept
• Define working group
• Develop prototype

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• Thank you for your attention!
• and on with the work !!!