Mandate
To provide, through the Internet, a scalable and flexible digital representation of the nation's geological framework from the map collections of Canada's geological survey agencies. This will be done from distributed databases, maintained by individual agencies, that are based on a common data model, including science language, that makes the information from mapping published at different scales and to different standards interoperable.

Principles

	Each geological map database will remain under the control of the source agency, which will be responsible for updating it regularly.
	Source information, including original citations, must be explicitly linked to all information in the databases.
	The data model should respect well-established geological principles such as the North American Stratigraphic Code, and be compatible with major "consensual" publications such as the DNAG volumes and the Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy.
	The data model will accommodate both the original geological information from the source maps, and common science language and high-level classifications that will follow international standards and protocols where available.
	The data model will support both national "standards" for a common CGKN portal, and allow flexibility so that individual agencies can provide information to their own "standards" directly from their web portals.

Membership
All Territorial, Provincial and Federal agencies which are actively involved in the mapping of bedrock geology should be represented on the sub-group to guide the development of the data model and its science language, and to populate the geological map databases. The subgroup will be led by two co-leaders, one representing Federal agencies and the other, the Provincial and Territorial agencies. The co-leaders will be appointed by GSC management and the Committee of Provincial Geologists, respectively.

Funding
Each agency will be responsible for maintaining its own database, including the provision of the necessary computer systems to support it and personnel to populate it. Funding will be sought from national programs such as GeoConnections for support in developing common software and documentation, and to support travel for regular subgroup meetings (two per year). Travel support will also be required so that subgroup members can actively participate in international activities related to data model development, especially science language.

Planning and Implementation
The subgroup will establish a long-term (3-5 year) plan to guide the development and maintenance of the national geological map database. Within this framework, annual plans will be drawn up to establish the role of each agency in accomplishing particular tasks, taking into account the agencies' capabilities in terms of personnel and financial resources for that year. From these annual plans, projects will be defined to attract matching funding from national programs.

Coordination
The subgroup will meet via conference call regularly (6-10 times per year), and face to face twice annually. The subgroup will submit its annual plan to the CGKN secretariat for approval, and will prepare a written report to the secretariat annually. At least one member of the Data Infrastructure Coordination subgroup will be a member of the bedrock subgroup.

Back to Working Groups