OGC Column - Crosswalking for Interoperability in Earth and Space Sciences

Earth System scientists integrate knowledge stemming from disciplines focused on constituent parts of the complex earth system. Earth-system analysis poses a real challenge to both scientists and information technologists. The scope and complexity of these investigations demand the formation of multidisciplinary collaborative teams. This requires integration of differing information systems with heterogeneous and distributed data and metadata models, varying semantics and expertise, diverse protocols and interfaces and different data policies and security levels. Advanced cyber-infrastructures provide necessary support for the growing multidisciplinary Earth System Science Community.