This document discusses the need for geoinformatics and cyberinfrastructure in the geosciences. It argues that answering complex scientific questions requires integrating all available data, but that currently it is too difficult to find, work with, and access relevant data and tools. The document advocates for strong partnerships between geoscientists and computer scientists to build user-friendly tools that facilitate data sharing, integration and analysis in order to accelerate scientific progress. It emphasizes that data needs to be organized into databases and data systems with standards and formats to make it easily discovered and used by the broader community.

1. Teaching Geoinformatics: A GeoscienceTeaching Geoinformatics: A Geoscience
PerspectivePerspective
Randy KellerRandy Keller
Professor andProfessor and Edward Lamb McCollough Chair in Geophysics
School of Geology and GeophysicsSchool of Geology and Geophysics
University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

2. Geoinformatics - the visionGeoinformatics - the vision
It is too hard to find andIt is too hard to find and
work with data that alreadywork with data that already
exist.exist.
It is too hard to acquireIt is too hard to acquire
software and make it work.software and make it work.
We have too little access toWe have too little access to
modern IT tools that wouldmodern IT tools that would
accelerate progress.accelerate progress.
The result is too little timeThe result is too little time
for science!for science!

3. To understandTo understand
the structurethe structure
(evolution) and(evolution) and
deformationdeformation
of the Northof the North
AmericanAmerican
continentcontinent
in fourin four
dimensionsdimensions
(x,y,z,t)(x,y,z,t)
The EarthScopeEarthScope Scientific Vision

4. Future research opportunities in the geosciences will be
significantly affected both by the availability and utilization of
Information Technology. Understanding the rock record that
preserves ~4.5 billion years of history, Earth structure, and
the processes at work is the key to answering scientific
questions associated with studies of biodiversity, climate
change, planetary processes, natural resources and
hazards, and the 4-D architecture and evolution of
continents. It has become evident that we can only answer
these complex questions through the integrationintegration of all the
data we have at hand and that this will require the
application of modern IT toolsapplication of modern IT tools.
EarthScope
Cyberinfrastructure for the GeosciencesCyberinfrastructure for the Geosciences
Why do we need it?Why do we need it?

5. What is Geoinformatics?
Geoinformatics is a science which develops and uses information science
infrastructure to address the problems of geosciences and related
branches of engineering.
The three main tasks of geoinformatics are:
･ development and management of databases of geodata
･ analysis and modeling of geodata
･ development and integration of computer tools and software for the first
two tasks.
Geoinformatics is related to geocomputation and to the development and
use of geographic information systems or Spatial Decision Support
Systems
Applications ･ An object-relational database (ORD) or object-relational
database management system (ORDBMS) Object-relational mapping (or
O/RM) Geostatistics
Geoinformatics Research & Education Geoinformatics Research Group,
School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Newcastle University, UK

6. Geoinformatics - Some key elementsGeoinformatics - Some key elements
 A strong partnership between domain expertsA strong partnership between domain experts
(geoscientists) and computer scientists(geoscientists) and computer scientists
 A shared goal of doing better (and more) scienceA shared goal of doing better (and more) science
 A desire to create products that the scientific communityA desire to create products that the scientific community
actually needs and will use (not what you think they need oractually needs and will use (not what you think they need or
should want)should want)
 Always give credit to original sources of data, software, etc.Always give credit to original sources of data, software, etc.
 A desire to preserve data, make it easily used andA desire to preserve data, make it easily used and
discovered, and create living databasesdiscovered, and create living databases
 A desire to create user friendly and platform independentA desire to create user friendly and platform independent
softwaresoftware
 A desire to facilitate data integrationA desire to facilitate data integration
 A desire to create cyberinfrastructure breakthroughs (e.g.,A desire to create cyberinfrastructure breakthroughs (e.g.,
visualization, 3-D model building editing, etc.)visualization, 3-D model building editing, etc.)
 A desire to democratize the use of cutting edge technologyA desire to democratize the use of cutting edge technology
in geoscience research and educationin geoscience research and education

7. A Scientific Effort VectorA Scientific Effort Vector
BackgroundBackground
ResearchResearch
Data Collection andData Collection and
CompilationCompilation
Software IssuesSoftware Issues
ScienceScience
Back-Back-
groundground
ResearchResearch
Data CollectionData Collection
and Compilationand Compilation
Software IssuesSoftware Issues
ScienceScience
ScienceScience - Analysis, Modeling, Interpretation, Discovery

8. Data SetData Set: A relatively raw compilation of data
(standards, formats, completeness may be questionable)
Data BaseData Base: A mature data compilation that has been
“cleaned”, standardized with input from the scientific
community, formatted for use by others (independent of
proprietary software, e.g., ORACLE)
Data SystemData System: A linked and organized set of data bases
including public domain software (not platform dependent),
tutorials, workflows, and procedures to analyze the data
Some Definitions about DataSome Definitions about Data

9. Data is only the beginningData is only the beginning
DataData
InformationInformation
KnowledgeKnowledge
DecisionDecision
SupportSupport
Value
Value
Volum
e
Volum
e

10. •The Geosciences are a discipline that is strongly data drivenstrongly data driven,
and large data sets are often developed by researchers and
government agencies.
•The complexity of the fundamental scientific questions being
addressed require a variety of data with highly integrative andhighly integrative and
innovative approachesinnovative approaches if we are to find solutions.
•Geoscientists have a tradition of sharing of datatradition of sharing of data, but being
willing to share data if asked or even maintaining an obscure
website accomplishes little. Also as a community, we have
no mechanisms to share the work that has been done when a
third party cleans up, reorganizes or embellishes an existing
database.
•We waste a large amount of human capitalwaste a large amount of human capital in duplicative
efforts and fall further behind by having no mechanism for
existing databases to grow and evolve via community input.
SomeSome Thoughts About the Need for CyberinfrastructureThoughts About the Need for Cyberinfrastructure