The application of open standards to enhance the interoperability of geoscience information

We can adequately study broad global issues and policies only by taking geosciences into account. Our research and decision-making must share and make effective use of interdisciplinary data sources, models, and processes. Non-interoperability impedes sharing of data and computing resources. Standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and other organizations are the basis for successfully deploying a seamless, distributed information infrastructure for the geosciences. Several specifications now adopted by the OGC consensus process are the result of OGC interoperability initiatives. The OGC standards, deployment architectures, and interoperability initiatives are described showing how the OGC standards baseline has been developed and applies to the geosciences.