Library, Metadata System and SDS

An important concept in the Geoinformatics process is the separation of fact from interpretation and Geoinformatics has developed an innovative system to ensure that the source data in any interpretation can always be identified. All data products at Geoinformatics have a family history. That is, all products can be traced back to their original source data. This is done by firstly cataloguing source data in the Geoinformatics Library as it arrives, and secondly by documenting the transformation of that data via a file metadata system.

Hardcopy and digital data received from external sources are indexed as entities in the Geoinformatics Library catalogue. Every project therefore has a listing of the data available. Catalogue details include the provider's name so that data ownership can be properly tracked.

All products subsequently produced from this source data are tracked and related to each other using the Geoinformatics Metadata system. Files are initially linked to the source data library number, and subsequently to each derived file until the final product is produced. This system is applied to all files including geological maps, databases, geophysical data, and 3D models. The result is that every object in the 3D database has a full inventory of data from which it was derived.

In March 2006 GXL began using Fractal Technologies’ Spatial Data Server (SDS) to manage all spatial data and technical documents. Data and documents are stored in SDS with metadata that describe how they were derived and what other pieces of data were used to create them. The GXL library catalog has also been imported into SDS so that data derived from library items can directly reference the library references. The metadata and references provide an audit trail for all data and documents to original data obtained by GXL.

One major advantage of SDS over other document management systems is the ability to translate spatial data between coordinate systems and file formats. Therefore original data can be loaded into the SDS in its original format and exported in whatever format is necessary for use.

GXL also plans to make use of the SDS web services API to write custom applications that link into the SDS database. These applications could be used to automate data processing and provide database management tools.