A Geoscience Information System for the USArray
by
Dogan Seber, Eric Sandvol, Christine Sandvol, Carrie Brindisi, and Muawia Barazangi
Cornell University, Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC)

-- A poster presented at the IRIS workshop 2000, Rockport, Maine --
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Objectives:

In order to produce the best science and obtain maximum benefit from the USArray initiative, it is essential that the initiative be supported by a comprehensive information system. The information system should serve as a reference library where researchers can access and analyze all available information. The system would help in the array planning, data acquisition, and data analysis phases of these activities.
The information system must be built as an organized, sophisticated, easy-to-use, and freely accessible system (preferably web-based). Utilizing this system, project participants will be able to design their network, determine possible seismic station locations, and view and analyze existing knowledge and information available for any footprint of the USArray.
To achieve this goal, we at Cornell have started to build a system for the USA based on our existing global and regional geoscience information system that has been under development for many years. The USArray information system benefits from the volumes of digital databases developed by us or provided by the USGS, state geological surveys, and other institutions. The current system already includes large volumes of geographic, geophysical, and geological data sets with analysis and access tools relevant to the USArray initiative.
A web-based interactive mapping system built previously enables users to generate custom made maps of any region and to use their own spatial data sets along with data sets provided in the system via their web browser. The interactive web-based system can be accessed at http://atlas.geo.cornell.edu/ima.html. This information system and the underlying digital library are continuously updated and new tools are provided regularly.
The existing prototype system and the Cornell researchers' expertise in building geoscience information systems will speed up the process of building the required information system for the USArray.
In addition, we anticipate that having current knowledge about the lithospheric structure (geologic- geophysical) of any given region in the database will help in future research efforts by providing detailed structural information in an easily accessible format.