Bruce Simons

Towards Linked Data Conventions for Delivery of Environmental Data Using netCDF

netCDF is a well-known and widely used format to exchange array-oriented scientific data such as grids and time-series. We describe a new convention for encoding netCDF based on Linked Data principles called netCDF-LD. netCDF-LD allows metadata elements, given as string values in current netCDF files, to be given as Linked Data objects. netCDF-LD allows precise semantics to be used for elements and expands the type options beyond lists of controlled terms. Using Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) for elements allows them to refer to other Linked Data resources for their type and descriptions. This enables improved data discovery through a generic mechanism for element type identification and adds element type expandability to new Linked Data resources as they become available. By following patterns already established for extending existing formats, netCDF-LD applications can take advantage of existing software for processing Linked Data and supporting more effective data discovery and integration across systems.

Enabling global exchange of groundwater data: GroundWaterML2 (GWML2)

GWML2 is an international standard for the online exchange of groundwater data that addresses the problem of data heterogeneity. This problem makes groundwater data hard to find and use because the data are diversely structured and fragmented into numerous data silos. Overcoming data heterogeneity requires a common data format; however, until the development of GWML2, an appropriate international standard has been lacking. GWML2 represents key hydrogeological entities such as aquifers and water wells, as well as related measurements and groundwater flows. It is developed and tested by an international consortium of groundwater data providers from North America, Europe, and Australasia, and facilitates many forms of data exchange, information representation, and the development of online web portals and tools.RésuméGWML2 est une norme internationale pour l’échange en ligne de données sur les eaux souterraines qui aborde le problème de l’hétérogénéité des données. Ce problème rend les données sur les eaux souterraines difficiles à découvrir et à utiliser parce qu’elles sont structurées et fragmentées en de nombreux silos. Surmonter l’hétérogénéité des données requiert un format de données commun; cependant, jusqu’au développement de GWML2, une norme internationale appropriée faisait défaut. GWML2 représente les principales entités hydrogéologiques telles que les aquifères et les puits d’eau, ainsi que les mesures connexes et les écoulements d’eau souterraine. La norme fut développée et testée par un consortium international de fournisseurs de données sur les eaux souterraines en provenance d’Amérique du Nord, d’Europe et d’Australasie; elle facilite de nombreuses formes d’échange de données, la représentation de l’information et le développement de portails web et d’outils en ligne.ResumenGWML2 es un estándar internacional para el intercambio en línea de datos de aguas subterráneas que aborda el problema de la heterogeneidad de los datos. Este problema hace que los datos de agua subterránea sean difíciles de encontrar y usar porque están estructurados en diversas formas y fragmentados en numerosos depósitos de datos. La superación de la heterogeneidad requiere un formato de datos común; sin embargo, hasta el desarrollo de GWML2, faltó un estándar internacional apropiado. GWML2 representa entidades hidrogeológicas claves, como acuíferos y pozos de agua, así como mediciones relacionadas y flujos de aguas subterráneas. Es desarrollado y probado por un consorcio internacional de proveedores de datos de agua subterránea de América del Norte, Europa y Australasia, y facilita muchas formas de intercambio de datos, representación de información y desarrollo de portales y herramientas web en línea.摘要地下水ML2是地下水数据在线交流的国际标准,重点针对数据异质性问题。这个问题使地下水数据很难找到和利用,因为数据结构各异,呈碎片状储存在众多的数据库。克服数据异质性需要常见的数据格式;然而,地下水ML2开发之前,一直缺乏一个适当的国际标准。地下水ML2展示了关键的水文地质实体诸如含水层和水井以及相关的测量结果和地下水流。经过来自北美、欧洲和澳洲的地下水数据提供者的国际联盟的开发和测试,促进了多种形式的数据交流、信息展示,以及在线网络门户网站和工具的开发。ResumoGWML2 é um padrão internacional para troca online de dados de águas subterrâneas que trata do problema da heterogeneidade dos dados. Este problema torna os dados de águas subterrâneas difíceis de serem encontrados e usados, por serem estruturalmente diversos e fragmentados em numerosos locais de armazenamento. Superar a heterogeneidade de dados requer um formato comum de dados; entretanto, até o desenvolvimento do GWML2, não havia um padrão internacional apropriado. GWML2 representa entidades-chaves hidrogeológicas tais como aquíferos e poços de captação, assim como medições relacionadas e fluxos hidrogeológicos. Foi desenvolvida e testada por um consórcio internacional de provedores de dados de águas subterrâneas da América do Norte, Europa e Austrália, facilitando várias formas de trocas de dados, representação de informação e desenvolvimento de portais online e ferramentas.

Eastern Victoria: a new exploration frontier?

High-quality airborne magnetic and radiometric data provide the cornerstone for the geological understanding of the relatively unexplored eastern highlands of Victoria. The Geological Survey of Victoria has obtained over 180 000 line kilometres of new airborne data in eastern Victoria. This data collection is a maior component of the Victorian Initiative for Minerals and Petroleum (VIMP). Eastern Victoria has an excellent geological section across the eastern Lachlan Fold Belt. The Early Silurian Benambran event deformed Ordovician turbidites. Two cycles of rifting during the Silurian and Early Devonian resulted in transtensional rift-like grabens. Silicic volcanic units and marine sediments filled these rifts. The Late Silurian Bindian deformation resulted in major northwest and northeast fault trends which are apparent in the geophysical data. Granites with varied magnetic and radiometric responses have intruded the area, with several reaching the surface to produce calderas. The area is rich in potential mineral targets. These include porphyry style copper?gold mineralisation, dyke-associated tin?gold mineralisation, volcanic-associated massive sulphide mineralisation, epithermal gold mineralisation, and carbonate-hosted Irish style lead?zinc mineralisation. The new geophysical data allow improved mapping of the geological units of eastern Victoria, interpretation of the regional structural features, and identification of exploration targets. The regional geophysical datasets provide an excellent basis for mineral exploration in the under-explored eastern Victoria