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In February 2006 a deceptively simple concept was put forward. Could we use the International Year of Planet Earth as a stimulus to begin the creation of a digital geological map of the planet at 1:1 million scale? Could we design and initiate a project that uniquely mobilises geological surveys around the world, as part of an ongoing IYPE2008 contribution, to act as the drivers and sustainable data providers of this global dataset? Further, could we synergistically use this geoscientist-friendly vehicle of creating a tangible geological map to accelerate progress of an emerging global geoscience data model and interchange standard? Finally, could we use the project to transfer know-how to developing countries and reduce the length and expense of their learning curve, while at the same time producing geoscience maps and data that could attract interest and investment? These aspirations, plus the chance to generate a global digital geological dataset to assist in the understanding of global environmental problems and the opportunity to raise the profile of geoscience as part of IYPE2008 seemed more than enough reasons to take the proposal to the next stage.
In March 2007, in Brighton, UK, 81 geoscientists from 43 countries and fifty three national and international bodies gathered together to consider whether they would be prepared to collaborate to create a global interoperable geological map dataset. The participants unanimously agreed the Brighton "Accord" and kicked off "OneGeology", an initiative that now has the support of 72 nations. In a sentence the OneGeology mission that was agreed is to "make web-accessible the best available geological map data worldwide at a scale of about 1:1 million, as a Geological Survey contribution to the International Year of Planet Earth". The aim was to create dynamic digital geological map data for the world with an initial target scale of 1:1 million, but the project is pragmatic and accepts a range of scales and the best available data. The geological map data is being made available as a distributed web service, using the latest web map and web feature service approaches. Geological Surveys are dynamically 'serving' the data for their territories to a web portal. OneGeology is accelerating the global introduction of the foundation technologies necessary for the interchange of geoscience data and allows real time access to the latest version of knowledge from the geological surveys of the world.
Since those early days in 2006 OneGeology has grown and progressed to be an international project that has not only achieved its scientific and technical goals in launching the first version of its web map portal with map data from many nations, but has also attracted substantial scientific, public and media interest around the world. This paper will review the origins and progress of OneGeology, examine the scientific, technical, cultural and political it has faced and look forward to future developments.
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