OneGeology – Geological map data for the world

Country / Region: World

Begin of project: March 1, 2007

Status of project: August 31, 2016

Factsheet

What?

1. Geological maps from around the globe are accessible on the World Wide Web;
2. A new web language has been written for geology which allows nations to share data with each other and the public;
3. The know-how to do this is being exchanged so that all nations across the world, regardless of their development status, can take part and benefit.

Why?

We all need clean water, fuel and materials to build and heat our homes, schools, workplaces and hospitals. We need civil engineering that won’t fall down; safe and sustainable places to live and manage our waste and store our carbon. It’s crucial that we know what the rocks are beneath our feet. Our changing climate means the need for this information is even more urgent. Until now geological map data has not been easy to find, access or use; OneGeology will change this.

Who?

OneGeology: participating countries (March 2015) Source: BGS

More than hundred nations around the world are currently participating in OneGeology. Each nation is represented by its Geological Survey. OneGeology is supported by UNESCO and six other international umbrella bodies and is the flagship project for International Year of Planet Earth. By the way: Germany is one of the first 30 countries that made its national data online available.

Where?

The countries which are taking part in OneGeology cover more than 100 million square kilometres — or 70% of the Earth’s land surface.

How?

A world first - delivering digital geological map data from its source in participating nations using cutting edge Web Map Service technology - unlike Google Earth this is a distributed, dynamic and sustainable model, leaving the data where it is best looked after and upgraded - with the provider nations.

Every Geological Survey registered his Web services either themselves for the OneGeology portal, or report data for a partner institution for the "buddy" principle (e.g. Germany and Ghana , adopted on the GIRAF 2009 workshop GIRAF 2009).

When?

OneGeology was initiated in March 2007 and the OneGeology web portal was launched on 6 August 2008 at the 33rd International Geological Congress in Oslo, Norway. (BGR-press release 01/08/2008)

Data

OneGeology accesses over 170 years of continuous scientific survey and research data and knowledge; from the industrial revolution at the beginning of the 19th century to the digital revolution of the 21st century.

Rocks

OneGeology maps thousands of rock units from the oldest (more than 3000 million years ago) to those rocks forming today.

Scientists

This is the world’s biggest geological mapping project ever — accessing data and expertise from 137 organisations which employ over 15,000 earth scientists worldwide.

Contacts and Links

• Poster Download-Area
  http://www.bgr.bund.de/OneGeologyPoster
  

• General and Project Lead
  www.onegeology.org
  
  
• Portal
  http://portal.onegeology.org/
  
  

• Contact in Germany
  Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR):

  • Dr. Kristine Asch (Kernteam OneGeology, Project coordination Germany)
    E-Mail: onegeology@bgr.de, Telefon +49 (0) 511 643 3324
    
  • Press inquiries or Interviews: Andreas Beuge,
    E-Mail: Andreas.Beuge@bgr.de – Telefon: +49 (0) 511 643 2679