APPENDIX V - CORDlink

Presentation: Murray Journeay - The Example of CordLink

Role of GeoScience Knowledge   GeoLibrary Project    Nhematis

The CORDLink GeoLibrary Project

Objectives design and build a Web-based GeoLibrary prototype for accessing shared geoscience information and knowledge resources for the Cordilleran and Pacific margin regions of western Canada, test a Web-based implementation of NADM (v 5.2), a data model designed for managing integrated collections of geoscience information and knowledge Extend the GeoLibrary framework and design to communicate the relevance of geoscience information and knowledge in a broader societal context.

What is a Distributed Geolibrary

A geolibrary is a digital library filled with geographically referenced information and knowledge resources for a distinct area or footprint on the earth’s surface A geolibrary is distributed if its users, services, metadata and information assets can be integrated across many distinct locations.

The Library Concept: Stewardship of shared information resources to promote both pure and applied research has traditionally been one of the principle roles of our library systems. Libraries are based on the premise of sharing information for mutual benefit. They exist to acquire, give access to and safeguard carriers of knowledge and information in all forms, and to provide instruction and assistance in the use of the collections to which the users have access.

GeoLibraries: are built upon these same principles. They represent shared collections of geographically referenced information (maps, documents, multi-media) that are stored in a relational database and accessed through a suite of Web-based applications in a distributed network environment using standard (open) protocols.

What we Know

Data Observation Measurement Analysis

Information Interpretation Compilation Synthesis

Knowledge Integration Generation of new ideas Testing of hypotheses

How to communicate what we know in a digital realm

Data Models: Frameworks for managing and representing scientific concepts and relationships

Distributed GeoLibrary Design Space

From Marchionini, G., and Fox, E.A., 1999, Progress toward digital libraries: IPM, v. 35, p. 219-225.

Community A region or group of people who share common ecological socio-economic, cultural, political and/or legal issues		Technology Data modeling, warehousing, distributed networks, retrieval, interoperability
Services Functionality, search, browse, providing replies to queries, mechanisms to encourage and simplify greater participation from users		Content The guts: data, observations, information, maps, images, texts, video, audio

Technology
Community
Services		Content

Technology
Community
Services		Content

CORDLink GeoLibrary

Community Discipline-specific Researcher Cross-Disciplinary Research Projects Land Use Decision-makers Citizens		Technology NADM Data Model GEOREF catalogue SQL Server Java, ColdFusion MapGuide Web GIS Currently implemented using a geo-relational model Extendible to an object model implementation
Services CEONet Distributed Search Knowledge Representation Interactive Web GIS Query & ANalysis Integration & synthesis Collection Management		Content a collection of GIS maps, text, ana image information relating to the natural resources, geological framework and evoluation of the Canadian Cordillera. Based on DNAG Science language specs.

http://cordlink.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/CORDLink

The Georgia Basin GeoLibrary:

A fundamental question driving current trends in sustainable development research is:

how can we enhance human well-being while protecting ecological health at the community level ?

To what extent, and in which ways can the Geoscience community contribute to a better understanding and balance of this equation?

• The alignment of key scientific research and knowledge generation initiatives across government and academic sectors,
  
  
• The development of public consultation mechanisms to support community-based learning and sustainability initiatives, and
  
  
• The integration of Web-based information and and decision support systems for managing these collective knowledge resources and for analyzing alternate scenarios by which sustainable conditions might be achieved in the Georgia Basin over the next four decades

Decision Support Systems: Using the Georgia Basin region as a pilot study, SDRI is in the process of expanding QUEST for use in a Web-based environment to foster scenario modeling and public consultation activities in support of both the Georgia Basin Futures Project and the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative. Geolibrary System: CORDLink represents one of the first efforts in Canada to successfully build a digital library prototype for managing multi-variant science information and knowledge resources in a distributed network environment.

The Opportunity:

Building a linkage between QUEST and digital library technologies provides an opportunity to develop operational procedures for better integrating natural science and socio-economic information for purposes of sustainability modeling and land-use planning.

Objectives:

Develop the necessary conceptual framework for a Web-based digital library that will seamlessly integrate natural and social science information (GIS maps, images, and text) into a comprehensive information resource to support sustainability research, community-focused decision making and public consultation activities in the Georgia Basin region of western Canada.

Role of GeoScience Knowledge   GeoLibrary Project    Nhematis