Standards and the Standards and the International Polar YearInternational Polar Year

Siri Jodha Singh KhalsaSiri Jodha Singh KhalsaNational Snow and Ice Data CenterNational Snow and Ice Data Center

IEEE GRS-S liaison to ISO TC211IEEE GRS-S liaison to ISO TC211

A Paul CooperA Paul CooperBritish Antarctic SurveyBritish Antarctic Survey

SCAR liaison to ISO TC211SCAR liaison to ISO TC211

SummarySummary

•The IPY is a major international, The IPY is a major international, interdisciplinary scientific event.interdisciplinary scientific event.

•The size and scope of the IPY provide The size and scope of the IPY provide unprecedented opportunities and unprecedented opportunities and challenges.challenges.

•Standards will play an important role Standards will play an important role in achieving the goals of the IPY.in achieving the goals of the IPY.

What is IPY?What is IPY?

•An intense, internationally coordinated An intense, internationally coordinated campaign of research in polar sciencecampaign of research in polar science

•Covers a wide range of scientific Covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the social sciencesdisciplines, including the social sciences

•Emphasis on public education and Emphasis on public education and training of the next generation of training of the next generation of engineers, scientists, and leaders.engineers, scientists, and leaders.

Background to IPYBackground to IPY

•First IPY in 1882/83, 2First IPY in 1882/83, 2ndnd in in 1932/331932/33

•The 3The 3rdrd IPY became the IGY in 1957/58 IPY became the IGY in 1957/58– Fostered a new era in Antarctic Fostered a new era in Antarctic

collaborationcollaboration– Resulted in The Antarctic TreatyResulted in The Antarctic Treaty– Left a network of World Data CentresLeft a network of World Data Centres

•Fifty years later, IPY 2007/08Fifty years later, IPY 2007/08– Simultaneous with eGY, IHY and Simultaneous with eGY, IHY and

International Year of Planet EarthInternational Year of Planet Earth

World Data CentresWorld Data Centres

•52 WDCs located in Europe, South Africa, 52 WDCs located in Europe, South Africa, Russia, Japan, India, China, South America, Russia, Japan, India, China, South America, Australia, Canada, and the United StatesAustralia, Canada, and the United States

•Discipline basedDiscipline based– E.G. Antarctic Glaciological Data Center E.G. Antarctic Glaciological Data Center

•Provide access to data and publicationsProvide access to data and publications•Often hosted within larger archives or bodiesOften hosted within larger archives or bodies

– National Snow and Ice Data CenterNational Snow and Ice Data Center– Scott Polar Research InstituteScott Polar Research Institute

•Active in international standards coordinationActive in international standards coordination

Size and Scope of IPYSize and Scope of IPY

•60 nations60 nations– most have representation on TC211most have representation on TC211

•Estimated 50,000 participantsEstimated 50,000 participants– includes technicians, crew, etc., in addition to includes technicians, crew, etc., in addition to

scientistsscientists

•Vast in scientific scope: genomic Vast in scientific scope: genomic sequences to the geoelectric circuitsequences to the geoelectric circuit

•Very wide range in knowledge of and Very wide range in knowledge of and involvement with standardsinvolvement with standards

Goals of the IPYGoals of the IPY

•Have an interdisciplinary emphasis, Have an interdisciplinary emphasis, with active inclusion of the social with active inclusion of the social sciencessciences

•Link researchers across different Link researchers across different fields to address questions and issues fields to address questions and issues lying beyond the scope of individual lying beyond the scope of individual disciplinesdisciplines

•Strengthen international coordination Strengthen international coordination of research and enhance international of research and enhance international collaboration and cooperation collaboration and cooperation

Goals of the IPY - continuedGoals of the IPY - continued

•Leave a legacy of observing sites, Leave a legacy of observing sites, research facilities, data, and systems research facilities, data, and systems to support ongoing polar research and to support ongoing polar research and monitoring. monitoring.

•Engage the awareness, interest and Engage the awareness, interest and understanding of schoolchildren, the understanding of schoolchildren, the general public and decision-makers general public and decision-makers worldwide.worldwide.

•Effective data management important Effective data management important to all of these goals.to all of these goals.

Data Management and the Data Management and the IPYIPY

•To achieve its aims, IPY must build a To achieve its aims, IPY must build a strong, cross disciplinary strong, cross disciplinary international data sharing international data sharing community.community.

•Data products must be accessibleData products must be accessible

•Data products will need to be at Data products will need to be at many levelsmany levels– ““Raw data” products for domain expertsRaw data” products for domain experts– Consolidated products for researchers in Consolidated products for researchers in

other fieldsother fields– Summary information for policy makersSummary information for policy makers

IPY Data Management IPY Data Management WorkshopWorkshop

•Held at the British Antarctic Survey in Held at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, England 3-4 March 2006Cambridge, England 3-4 March 2006

•Hosted by NSIDC and the IPY Hosted by NSIDC and the IPY Programme OfficeProgramme Office

•Recommendations from this workshop Recommendations from this workshop form the basis of this presentationform the basis of this presentation

•http://nsidc.org/events/ipydis/http://nsidc.org/events/ipydis/

The IPY DISThe IPY DIS

•The primary goal of the workshop was The primary goal of the workshop was to develop an implementation plan for to develop an implementation plan for the IPY Data and Information Servicethe IPY Data and Information Service

•Includes a Data Coordination OfficeIncludes a Data Coordination Office– assistance with standards complianceassistance with standards compliance– development of union catalogdevelopment of union catalog

•Education – “Data Stories”Education – “Data Stories”

•Innovative data discovery and access Innovative data discovery and access

Models for Data DiscoveryModels for Data Discovery

•Central catalogue serviceCentral catalogue service– Single point of failureSingle point of failure– Would not serve community-specific needsWould not serve community-specific needs

•Multiple catalogs interconnected through Multiple catalogs interconnected through XML-based metadata harvesting protocolsXML-based metadata harvesting protocols– Information shared through “union” catalogueInformation shared through “union” catalogue– Individual catalogs harvest metadata they Individual catalogs harvest metadata they

requirerequire– Can develop discovery and access interfaces Can develop discovery and access interfaces

most appropriate to each communitymost appropriate to each community– Capture user interaction patterns to enhance Capture user interaction patterns to enhance

future usefuture use

Enabling InteroperabilityEnabling Interoperability

•The IPYDIS must encourage The IPYDIS must encourage interoperability at all levels. interoperability at all levels.

•At it’s most basic, “interoperability” At it’s most basic, “interoperability” is the ability for different software is the ability for different software and hardware to share and use dataand hardware to share and use data– definition belies the complexity of the definition belies the complexity of the

problem, especially when sharing data problem, especially when sharing data across cultures and scientific disciplines.across cultures and scientific disciplines.

The StandardsThe Standards

•Suitable standards exist for many of the Suitable standards exist for many of the components needed for an IPY systemcomponents needed for an IPY system– Existing standards may need extendingExisting standards may need extending– Some new standards may be requiredSome new standards may be required

• IPY is in a position to influence standards IPY is in a position to influence standards developmentdevelopment– Via national standards bodiesVia national standards bodies

• e.g. BSI, ANSI, DINe.g. BSI, ANSI, DIN– Via Liaison bodiesVia Liaison bodies

• e.g. SCAR, WMO, IEEE, UNEPe.g. SCAR, WMO, IEEE, UNEP

Why Geospatial Standards?Why Geospatial Standards?

•Most environmental data are geospatial.Most environmental data are geospatial.

•Many other data have a geographic Many other data have a geographic component.component.

•Geography is a common linking theme Geography is a common linking theme between disciplines.between disciplines.

•Geospatial Standards (ISO, OGC) are Geospatial Standards (ISO, OGC) are mature and have many mature and have many implementations.implementations.

RecommendationsRecommendations

•Require projects to provide ISO 19115 Require projects to provide ISO 19115 compatible metadata using XML-based compatible metadata using XML-based transport formats where possible.transport formats where possible.

•Assist in developing and encouraging Assist in developing and encouraging community-specific profiles of ISO 19115. community-specific profiles of ISO 19115.

• In cases where ISO 19115 is inappropriate In cases where ISO 19115 is inappropriate or inadequate (e.g. artifacts, multimedia) or inadequate (e.g. artifacts, multimedia) the IPYDIS should encourage the use of the IPYDIS should encourage the use of international library and archival international library and archival standards.standards.

IPY DIS ServicesIPY DIS Services

•Data DiscoveryData Discovery

•Mapping servicesMapping services

•Data delivery servicesData delivery services

•Service chainingService chaining– Image processingImage processing– Reprojection, reformattingReprojection, reformatting

What We HaveWhat We Have

•WMS, WFS and WCS well specified by OGCWMS, WFS and WCS well specified by OGC•WMS delivers maps via simple URL WMS delivers maps via simple URL

requestsrequests– Suitable for data explorationSuitable for data exploration– OGC SLD and ISO 19117 (Portrayal)OGC SLD and ISO 19117 (Portrayal)

•WFS, WCS deliver data via XML requestsWFS, WCS deliver data via XML requests– Suitable for detailed analysisSuitable for detailed analysis

•Use needs to be refined in light of other Use needs to be refined in light of other standardsstandards– ISO 19110 and ISO 19126 (Feature Catalogue ISO 19110 and ISO 19126 (Feature Catalogue

and Data Dictionary)and Data Dictionary)– ISO 19113 and ISO 19114 (Data quality ISO 19113 and ISO 19114 (Data quality

principles and evaluation)principles and evaluation)

Need StepsNeed Steps

•Data Discovery servicesData Discovery services– Tailored to specific disciplinesTailored to specific disciplines– Requires adequate metadata (and ISO 19139)Requires adequate metadata (and ISO 19139)

•Semantic interoperabilitySemantic interoperability

•Need services built on standards such as Need services built on standards such as – ISO 19110 (Feature Catalogues)ISO 19110 (Feature Catalogues)– ISO 19126 (Data Dictionary)ISO 19126 (Data Dictionary)– ISO 19115 and ISO 19139 (Metadata)ISO 19115 and ISO 19139 (Metadata)– ISO 19119 (Services)ISO 19119 (Services)– NWIP on Cross-Domain VocabulariesNWIP on Cross-Domain Vocabularies

SemanticsSemantics

•Metadata and data standards, while Metadata and data standards, while essential, only partially address the issues essential, only partially address the issues of interoperability in the cross-cultural, of interoperability in the cross-cultural, interdisciplinary IPY domain. interdisciplinary IPY domain.

•Technical terminonolgy is often discipline Technical terminonolgy is often discipline specificspecific

•Semantic interoperability desirable when a Semantic interoperability desirable when a large range of disciplines are attempting large range of disciplines are attempting to share data and information.to share data and information.

Statement of ProblemStatement of Problem

•Each science domain or community develops Each science domain or community develops its own terminology to describe concepts, its own terminology to describe concepts, resources (objects, data) and relationshipsresources (objects, data) and relationships

•Data discovery and data sharing depend Data discovery and data sharing depend critically on being able to attach critically on being able to attach unambiguous meaning to the terms used to unambiguous meaning to the terms used to describe domain knowledgedescribe domain knowledge

•Different domains have used different means Different domains have used different means of codifying domain knowledgeof codifying domain knowledge

Knowledge Organization Knowledge Organization SystemsSystems

•Controlled vocabulariesControlled vocabularies– Glossaries, Dictionaries, ThesauriGlossaries, Dictionaries, Thesauri– GazetteersGazetteers

•Classification SchemesClassification Schemes– TaxonomiesTaxonomies– Feature catalogsFeature catalogs

•OntologiesOntologies

OntologiesOntologies

•Expressed in a formal conceptual Expressed in a formal conceptual language (UML, ERD, RDF, OWL,...)language (UML, ERD, RDF, OWL,...)

•Uses symbols, text, rules, axioms to Uses symbols, text, rules, axioms to express: express: – classes (conceptualizations of objects)classes (conceptualizations of objects)– instances of classesinstances of classes– properties of classesproperties of classes– relationships between classesrelationships between classes

ProcessProcess

•There is no one correct way to model There is no one correct way to model a domaina domain– there are always viable alternatives.there are always viable alternatives.

•Ontology development is necessarily Ontology development is necessarily an iterative process.an iterative process.

Approaches – Top DownApproaches – Top Down

•Rarely based on consensus of Rarely based on consensus of communitycommunity

•Our intent is to draw upon existing Our intent is to draw upon existing domain knowledge representations in domain knowledge representations in each IPY disciplineeach IPY discipline– Investigate tools for bringing these Investigate tools for bringing these

knowledge bases into a common systemknowledge bases into a common system

Approaches – Bottom UpApproaches – Bottom Up

•System for assigning subject metadataSystem for assigning subject metadata– ““tagging” interface, “folksonomy”tagging” interface, “folksonomy”– High level terms from defined domain High level terms from defined domain

specificationspecification– Leave discovery to web services such as Leave discovery to web services such as

GoogleGoogle– Analyze relationships of tags and users to Analyze relationships of tags and users to

extract a “light” ontologyextract a “light” ontology– Allow community review and editingAllow community review and editing

RecommendationsRecommendations

•The IPYDIS should encourage the The IPYDIS should encourage the development of formal semantic development of formal semantic approaches to interoperability (e.g., approaches to interoperability (e.g., ontologies) in areas where needed. ontologies) in areas where needed.

•This will require a phased, community-This will require a phased, community-based approach that could include formal based approach that could include formal use cases and informal approaches to use cases and informal approaches to soliciting community input (e.g. wikis, soliciting community input (e.g. wikis, social book marking, etc.) social book marking, etc.)

Final WordsFinal Words

•Many nations around the world will be Many nations around the world will be cooperatingcooperating

•Many organizations with different Many organizations with different infrastructuresinfrastructures

•IPY systems IPY systems mustmust be open be open

•Specify interoperability at the Specify interoperability at the interfacesinterfaces

•Must not depend on proprietary Must not depend on proprietary software or other intellectual property.software or other intellectual property.

SummarySummary

•The IPY is a major international, The IPY is a major international, interdisciplinary scientific event.interdisciplinary scientific event.

•The size and scope of the IPY provide The size and scope of the IPY provide unprecedented opportunities and unprecedented opportunities and challenges.challenges.

•Standards will play an important role Standards will play an important role in achieving the goals of the IPY.in achieving the goals of the IPY.

ResourcesResources

•http://nsidc.org/events/ipydis/http://nsidc.org/events/ipydis/

•http://www.ipy.org/http://www.ipy.org/

•http://www.ipy.gov/http://www.ipy.gov/

•http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/wdc/http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/wdc/

•http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/