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Creating a unified geological database: the need for a global standard
- Source: First Break, Volume 29, Issue 11, Nov 2011,
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- 01 Nov 2011
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Abstract
Geographic information systems (GIS) allow geological data, among other data types, to be easily and efficiently distributed and shared between users around the world. Government agencies, companies, institutes, and researchers all create datasets. There is clearly a need for a global standard for defining and referencing geological data in a GIS environment with so many producers of data. We present the basis for this argument and a proposal for guidelines to create a standard for geological data produced and shared in a GIS environment. These guidelines are based on a database structure, complete and clear metadata, and clearly identifiable references for features in the dataset. A case study using geological databases of exposed rock units of the Caribbean and northern South America illustrates the problems and shows how the proposed guidelines would make it easier and more efficient to use the data that are currently publicly available.