Rock scientists reach WMS network milestone

Earth and computer scientists are working together on a global project called OneGeology to produce the first digital geological map of the world. This project is doing the same for the rocks beneath our feet that Google does for maps of the Earth’s surface - and with over 100 nations now participating OneGeology has reached an important milestone.

The goal of OneGeology is to make geological map data around the World web accessible. Contributing to the OneGeology infrastructure involves offering to serve geologic data by Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards-based Web Map Services (WMS). The WMS allows geologic maps to be accessed by anyone according to an international standard and overlayed on other maps using Google Earth, Gaia and other applications.

So if you've ever wondered what Mother Earth would look like stripped bare of all plants, soils, water and structures? Wonder no longer - images of the Earth as never seen before are coming online in the world’s biggest geologic mapping project ever.

- Jeff