CyberInfrastructure for Research and Education in Structural Geology

Implementation of the cyberSTRUCTURE Information System (cSIS)

Coordinating Committee
John S. Oldow, Chair, Department of Geological Sciences University of Idaho, Moscow, ID; Jeffrey Lee, Department of Geological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA; Clyde J. Northrup, Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID; Basil Tikoff, Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Summary

Development of a structural geology cyberinfrastructure will provide the underpinnings for a revolution in research and education. Rich, diverse datasets combined with analysis tools, arrayed in easily accessible formats, will allow new insights into complex, heterogeneous, non-linear earth processes, and facilitate exploration of a new class of interdisciplinary, scientific problem that can be addressed by researchers and educators at institutions across the nation. To achieve this goal, databases and analysis tools must be combined in an information system developed at disciplinary levels and made available to the national scientific community. The creation of a cyberinfrastructure necessarily incorporates data sets spanning the full range of spatial and temporal scales. Once implemented, this cyberSTRUCTURE Information System (cSIS) will:

1. Facilitate a paradigm shift in structural geology by documenting and preserving observational and experimental data independent of inference and interpretation;

2. Enable and enhance process-oriented research by providing a rapid and flexible means of extracting and analyzing data (such as geologic maps, images, fabric orientations, etc.) required for the development of new, testable, end-member hypotheses, and;

3. Revolutionize earth science education by the early integration of students into scientific inquiry via direct access to primary data and providing analysis tools.

For additional details visit the CyberInfrastructure for Research and Education in Structural Geology home page.

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