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Spatial data has an important role in many social, environmental, economic and political decisions, and is increasingly acknowledged as a national resource essential for sustainable development[1]. Therefore, they can help to make the appropriate decision in several specialties; namely exploration and resource management [2], urban development [3], and water quality  [4], etc. Despite the huge explosion and the availability of these data entities that produce them have been faced with increasing difficulties regarding aspects such as harmonization, standardization, management and sharing of data between the different platforms; on a national or/and international level. Furthermore, geospatial data are often acquired for special purposes that are often proved in a differently way to their future use[5].

 

The aim of this proposed work is to facilitate access to geological data coming from distributed data sources and the information (metadata) related to these data. We have established a spatial data infrastructure as a prototype that comprises a geoportal providing access to a Catalogue Service for Web (CSW) representing both the data and available services, and the WMS (Web Map Service) view and Web Feature Service (WFS) download services, which aim to be compliant with the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards rules. In fact the establishment of a spatial data infrastructure that we have elaborated in accordance with internationally recognized standards allows the exploration and sharing of geological data information, and will also allow researchers and professionals to spend more time in the analysis and the discovery of these data.

spatial data infrastructure; geological data; interoperability; standards; OGC;