THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION AND THE GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER: GLOBAL CHALLENGES (NOT ONLY) FOR GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

The rapid development of technology and especially of the web, the massive explosion of data and information, the diverse expectations and requirements of users across all sectors – governments, scientists, commerce and the public – are posing new challenges and to the geologist's discipline of geological mapping. Around the world in geological surveys and governmental agencies, but also in research institutes, universities, industry and private companies we geologists are facing new demanding tasks and changes in our traditional tasks.

In increase of transboundary issues between nations, within continents and across the world and the global need for information on energy and mineral resources, agriculturally useable areas, groundwater, transport, disastrous natural hazards, and also the impact of climate change results in an increasing requirement for reliable geoscience information, which can only exist with reliable geological mapping and a sound interpretation of the results.

Within this time of the internet and a proverbial “information explosion” of geoscience data and information the geologists are no more working within a small area for only to a limited number of users. In the end they often work for a wide international or even global user community. Thus, the responsibility of each geologist is increasing and so is the importance of an efficient transfer and exchange information, the integration across political and continental boundaries, the interoperability of data, the work in international teams on research and development.

This presentation will address critical issues geological mapping and geoscience information technology are facing in order to address - with responsibility - societal needs of a stae, country, continent or even the whole world.