Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Sciences

by Edited by G. Randy Keller , Chaitanya Baru

• ISBN13: 9780521897150
• ISBN10: 0521897157
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-06-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Advanced information technology infrastructure is increasingly being employed in the Earth sciences to provide researchers with efficient access to massive central databases and to integrate diversely formatted information from a variety of sources. These geoinformatics initiatives enable manipulation, modeling and visualization of data in a consistent way, and are helping to develop integrated Earth models at various scales, and from the near surface to the deep interior. This book uses a series of case studies to demonstrate computer and database use across the geosciences. Chapters are thematically grouped into sections that cover data collection and management; modeling and community computational codes; visualization and data representation; knowledge management and data integration; and web services and scientific workflows. Geoinformatics is a fascinating and accessible introduction to this emerging field for readers across the solid Earth sciences and an invaluable reference for researchers interested in initiating new cyberinfrastructure projects of their own.

Author Biography

G. Randy Keller is a Professor of Geophysics and McCullogh Chair at the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, University of Oklahoma. Chaitanya Baru is a Distinguished Scientist at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	p. viii
Preface	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Science needs and challenges for geoinformatics	p. 3
Introduction to IT concepts and challenges	p. 10
Case studies from other disciplines	p. 19
Semantic cyberinfrastrucrure: The Virtual Solar-Terrestrial Observatory	p. 21
Cyberinfrastructures for life sciences and biomedicine	p. 37
Modeling software and community codes	p. 47
Development, verification, and maintenance of computational software in geodynamics	p. 49
Parallel finite element modeling of multi-timescale faulting and lithospheric deformation in western USA	p. 68
Next-generation plate-tectonic reconstructions using GPlates	p. 95
Visualization and data representation	p. 115
Visualization of seismic model data	p. 117
The Unavco Geon Integrated Data Viewer for exploration, analysis, and integration of geoscience data	p. 131
Knowledge management and data integration	p. 143
Data and tools for geologic timelines and timescales	p. 145
Modeling geodynamic processes with ontologies	p. 166
Web services and scientific workflows	p. 191
Service orientation in the design of a community hydrologic information system	p. 193
Web services for seismic data archives	p. 210
Development of robust data system for gravity and magnetic anomaly data: A case study of a community-based effort for point data	p. 224
Scientific workflows for the geosciences: An emerging approach to building integrated data analysis systems	p. 237
Online access and processing of LiDAR topography data	p. 251
Use of abstraction to support geoscientists' understanding and production of scientific artifacts	p. 266
Emerging international and other efforts	p. 285
It's not your data, it's everyone's: The benefits of a corporate approach to scientific information	p. 287
Topo-Europe and cyberinfrastructure: Quantifying coupled deep earth - surface processes in 4-D	p. 292
OneGeology - from concept to global project	p. 317
Geoinformatics developments in Germany	p. 323
iGEON: Networking the Indian geosciences community through GEON	p. 332
Geoinformatics in the public service: Building a cyberinfrastructure across the geological surveys	p. 342
Application of the US Geoscience Information Network to deploying a national geothermal data system	p. 350
Index	p. 371
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