Teaching Geoinformatics: A Geoscience Perspective

Randy Keller Professor and Edward Lamb McCollough Chair in Geophysics School of Geology and Geophysics University of Oklahoma

Geoinformatics - the vision

It is too hard to find and work with data that already exist. It is too hard to acquire software and make it work. We have too little access to modern IT tools that would accelerate progress. The result is too little time for science!

The EarthScope Scientific Vision

To understand the structure (evolution) and deformation of the North American continent in four dimensions (x,y,z,t)

EarthScope
Cyberinfrastructure for the Geosciences Why do we need it?

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 integration of all the data we have at hand and that this will require the application of modern IT tools. tools

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

Geoinformatics - Some key elements

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

www.Geoinformatics.info

A Scientific Effort Vector

Background Research Data Collection and Compilation Software Issues

Science

Background Research

Data Collection and Compilation Software Issues

Science

Science - Analysis, Modeling, Interpretation, Discovery

Some Definitions about Data

Data Set: A relatively raw compilation of data
(standards, formats, completeness may be questionable)

Data 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 System: A linked and organized set of data bases

including public domain software (not platform dependent), tutorials, workflows, and procedures to analyze the data

Data systems needed

Property Seismicity Gravity Aeromagnetic Earthquake location Density Magnetic Susceptibility Arrival times Arrival times Electrical conductivity Thermal conductivity Depth, Lithology, Physical properties X Y Z (elevation) Z (depth) inferred inferred T

Seismic Reflection Seismic Refraction Electromagnetic Heat Flow Drill Hole Data

inferred inferred inferred

Data systems needed (continued)

Property Geologic Maps Faults (mapping and imaging) Geochemistry/Petrology Geochronology Global Positioning System Digital Elevation Model Remote Sensing (SAR) Remote Sensing (multispectral) Paleontology Sedimentology Distribution of units Geometry Composition Age Position Elevation grid Image of reflectivity Image of reflectivity Ancient life Ancient environments X Y inferred inferred Z (elevation) inferred inferred Z (depth) T

Data is only the beginning

Decision Support

e m lu Vo

V al ue

Knowledge Information Data

Some considerations in setting up a class

The audience (obviously) - what do they know coming in? (Geospatial skills, computer programming skills, general computer skills, mathematical background, geological background) How formal will the structure be? (mix of lecture, lab, seminar style) How mathematical do you want to be? What is mix of computer science and geoscience? Relation to Computer Applications in the Geoscience class? I strongly recommend that a computer science colleague be involved to some degree and that there be some computer science students in the class.

Learning Environments
Time
Same Face To Face Same Different Library Drop-in Lab Collaboratory

Place

Cyberinfrastructure

Different

Tele / Video conference

Email DATA

The independent scientist is not a thing of the past, but more and more big advances are made through collaboration.

A class schedule

A class schedule (cont.)

Uncertainty, reliability, provenance. Etc.

Class assignments
Read papers from the recent literature (<2004 is old ) Set up a modest personal website Laboratory exercise on EXCEL Laboratory exercise on GIS Laboratory exercise on MATLAB Laboratory exercise on using Google Earth quantitatively Find an interesting piece of software on-line and demo it to the class Create a modest web service Term project to create a modest web portal

The class project

The class project - some topics

Geoinformatics: Data to Knowledge GSA Special Paper

Table of Contents I

Table of Contents II

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Sciences
Co-editors: G. Randy Keller, University of Oklahoma, USA Chaitanya Baru, San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California

I. INTRODUCTION
1. Introduction to Science Needs and Challenges G. Randy Keller, University of Oklahoma 2. Introduction to IT Concepts and Challenges Chaitanya Baru, University of California, San Diego

II. DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT

3. Framework for Managing LiDAR/Remote Sensing Data, Ramon Arrowsmith, and Christopher Crosby, Arizona State University
4. Algorithms for Gridding and Analysis of Remote Sensing Data, S. B. Baden, Christopher Crosby, Ramon Arrowsmith, Arizona State University 5. Digital Field Data Collection, John Oldow and Douglas Walker, University of Idaho and University of Kansas 6. Sensor Networks and Embedded Cyberinfrastructure for Sensor Networks, Tony Fountain, Frank Vernon, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

III. MODELING SOFTWARE AND COMMUNITY CODES
7. Community Codes for Geodynamics, Mike Gurnis and Walter Landry, CalTech 8. Community Codes for Earthquake Wave Propagation Research: The TeraShake Platform Philip Maechling, Yifeng Cui, Kim Olsen, David Okaya, Ewa Deelman, Amit Chourasia, Gaurang Mehta, Reagan Moore, and Thomas H. Jordan , Southern California Earthquake Center, University of Southern California 9. Parallelizing Finite Element Codes for Geodynamics Mian Liu, University of Missouri 10.Designing and Building a Grid-enabled Synthetic Seismogram Computational Resource Dogan Seber, Choonhan Youn, Tim Kaiser, Cindy Santini, University of California at San Diego 11. The PaleoAtlas for ArcGIS Chris Scotese, University of Texas at Arlington

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

IV. VISUALIZATION AND DATA REPRESENTATION 12. Visualization of Seismic Model Data Steve Cutchin and Amit Chourasia, UCSD 13. Integrated Visualization of 4D Data Charles Meertens, UNAVCO 14. Visualization and Fusion of Remote Sensing Data Eric Frost, San Diego State University 15. Database Development and Visualization for the Yellowstone National Park Region Robert B. Smith, Jaime Farrell, and Charles Meertens, University of Utah, UNAVCO

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

V. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND DATA INTEGRATION
16. Data Integration for Paleo Studies: Why and How? Allister Rees, Chris Scotese, Ashraf Memon, John Alroy, Univeristy of Arizona, UCSD, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Arlington, 17. Creating a dynamic, calibrated geologic time-line using databases, Web applications, and services, Cinzia Cervato and Peter Sadler, Iowa State University 18. Data Models and Tools for Geochemistry Databases, Kerstin Lehnert, Doug Walker, Richard Carlson, Columbia University, University of Kansas, Carnegie Institution of Washington 19. Spatial and Process Ontologies of Subduction Zones, Hassan Babaie, Georgia State University 20. GeoSciML - A GML application for geoscience information interchange Stephen M. Richard and CGI Interoperability working group, Arizona Geological Survey 21. Bottom-Up Ontologies and Recommendation Systems for Geoscience Applications Mark Gahegan, Pennsylvania State University 22. Knowledge Representation in Geology, Krishna Sinha and Kai Lin, Virginia Tech University, University of California at San Diego

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

V. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND DATA INTEGRATION
23. Web Services and Observation Data Catalogs for Uniform Hydrologic Data Access and Analysis I. Zaslavsky, D. Valentine, T. Whitenack, D. Maidment University of California at San Diego, University of Texas at Austin 24. Web Services for Seismic Data Archives Tim Ahern and Linus Kamb, IRIS 25. Creating CI resources for gravity and magnetic data: Algorithms, Tools, and Web Services Leo Salayandia, Raed Aldouri, Ann Gates, Vladik Kreinovich, and G. Randy Keller, University of Texas at El Paso and University of Oklahoma 26. Use of Scientific Workflows in Geoscience Ilkay Altintas, Efrat Jaeger-Frank, Bertram Ludaescher University of California at Davis, University of California at San Diego 27. Workflow-Driven Ontologies: A methodology to create scientific workflows from domain knowledge Leonardo Salayandia, Paulo Pinheiro da Silva, and Ann Q. Gates, UTEP 28. Science Portal for Research and Education in Geosciences Ashraf Memon, Sandeep Chandra, Choonhan Youn, UCSD

Geoinformatics - Cambridge University Press

VII. Emerging International Efforts
29. The evolution of Earth Science data integration in the Federal Government of the US: Policy, Practice, and Informatics Linda Gunderson, U. S. Geological Survey 30. Geosciences Data in India K. V. Subbarao, Indian Institute of Technology. Department, Department of Earth Sciences 31. Global Earth Observations Grid Satoshi Sekiguchi, Satoshi Tsuchida, and Ryosuke Nakamura, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan 32. GEO-GRID eScience for the Earth- and Environmental Science Jens Klump, GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam, Germany

Some thoughts about a Geoinformatics curriculum

(B.S. in Geoscience with Computer Science Minor)
Mathematics background (Calculus, statistics, numerical analysis) Computer Programming [which language(s)?] GIS Geophysics/Remote Sensing (Introductory classes) Geology (at least a minor) Database - Data Structures Software Engineering (informal participation) Computer Applications in the Geosciences Skills needed: Data manipulation, web presence, uncertainty analysis, visualization/graphics, basic hardware handling

Some Thoughts About the Need for Cyberinfrastructure

The Geosciences are a discipline that is strongly data driven, 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 and innovative approaches if we are to find solutions. Geoscientists have a tradition of sharing of data, 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 capital in duplicative efforts and fall further behind by having no mechanism for existing databases to grow and evolve via community input.