Preparing and Connecting Multi-Scale, High Value Geological Survey Information to the CGDI

HydraSpace Inc., in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada designed and developed two data warehouses to hold geological and geophysical spatial data and related meta-data and other non-spatial data.  The spatial data, in the form of vector data and geo-referenced images, has been linked to meta-data, allowing users to search through meta-data for spatial data of interest, rather than hunting through a series of independent maps.

The project delivered a browser, known as the Interactive Web Client, as part of the total solution.  The IWC is an integral part of the warehouse, providing users with the ability to search, view and download spatial data and related meta-data over the World Wide Web.  Spatial data is rendered and displayed as graphic images, allowing users to pan, zoom and retrieve meta-data on specific geological or geophysical features The browser was developed using Java and is accessing the warehouse using an OGC-compliant interface.

The warehouse has been developed according to several industry standards.  The database design, implemented using Oracle 8 and CubeSTOR, follows the standards described by the North American Data Model version 5.2 and the TC211 committee of the International Standards Organisation (ISO).  Data is accessible through the SQL/MM and SQL3, both standards for relational data access, and through Open Geospatial Data Interface (OGDI).  The warehouse has been connected to CEONet, via the Z39.50 and FGDC standards.

The project was a joint project involving the Earth Sciences Sector of NRCan, Regional Geophysics Section of NRCan and HydraSpace Solutions Inc of Hull, Quebec. Through the GeoInnovations Program, the GeoConnections Secretariat of NRCan provided important funding, allowing this project to proceed. HydraSpace Solutions is a consortium of two Canadian companies, Holonics Data Management Group Ltd and CubeWerx Inc., that provide spatial solutions to business problems.