Geo-information work at China Geological Survey 4.2 Field data collection system toolkit of geological investigation Digital geological mapping PDA toolkit (PRB) is now widely used now in the field mapping projects. The second generation of field data collection system equipment was developed in 2002 and tested in the field in 2003. This PDA CE platform based toolkit is integrated with GPS and fundamental GIS functions for digital mapping. To replace traditional field notebook, this system can be used in field for digital geological mapping, and transfer data directly to a workstation database after daily fieldwork. 4.3 Achieves and drilling specimen database of geological survey Tens of thousands of reports and bulletins on geological survey and scientific research were handed in and collected in CGS. About 50 thousands kinds of catalog and abstract were compiled and keyed in database. The Development Research Center in charges of professional training of software use and digital archive management to the staff working in the six region center, provincial geological surveys, colleges and industry agencies. The catalog and abstract database is now being updated in most of these organizations. 5. Information dissemination of CGS 5.1 information dissemination CGS has provided the public with fresh and fruitful geoinformation products to the public, including digital geological map, geophysical data, digital geological achieves, etc. China Litho-stratigraphy database was completed in 1996. This unique database contains about 80,380 files of different rock type and stratum. The most authoritative national stratigraphy database had been available since 2000 on the website of CGS. 1:500,000 geological map database for example, more than 500 copies both in Chinese and English version have been sent freely to Chinese government and geoscientist since 2000. It is the first digital version of geological map that covers the whole nation. 1:5,000,000 geological map database also sent freely to Earth scientists in China. And, 1:2,500,000 geological map database will also release to the public this year. Regional gravity database, geochemical database and 1:200,000 geological database have also been utilized by more than 100 projects ever since their development work had started within and outside the survey and for mineral resource potential assessment, fundamental geological researches, and other purposes, such as agricultural planning and environment investigation. Development of digital geological maps at scale of, 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 are continued and served the work plan of CGS each year. Library of digital geological reports and bulletins was developed and put into used in the autumn of 2002. Catalog of geological achieves can be retrieved on the website since the end of 2002. Catalog of national geological library are quite familiar to many readers both domestic and overseas. 5.2 Metadata In order to support the dissemination of these geo-databases and other achievements made by geological survey, CGS has launched several projects on metadata in reference to that of national metadata information, and some international information. Some metadata, however, were issued by the staff who working on a database development individually in the past due to the shortage of metadata standard. The metadata work now is being adjusted and standard is being strengthened in CGS to follow the information center of The ministry of land and resources, and that of national spatial information infrastructure. A metadata database architecture and managing system is now being studied, which will become a part of national architecture of clearinghouse for geological information management, application, sharing and exchange. Core-metadata in CGS today is following the standard of CCOP. An example is shown in table 4, which can also be found at http://www.cgs.gov.cn/Ev/gs/metadata.htm. A standard for detail metadata is being drafted this year. 
Metadata of eight databases of CGS are released at Internet Website last year. The released and will soon be released metadata are listed in table 5 below. 
5.3 Databases released to the public Geological archives are utilized daily by users from different organizations all over the country, especially those who are carrying out a project form CGS. The same time, CGS database services have also been provided to all users in the country. In 2003, thousands of 1:500,000, 1:200,000 digital geological map dataset, have been provided. Other databases, e.g. 1:5,000,000 series digital geological maps, include regional geological maps, regional mineral resource maps and hydrogeological maps etc., regional gravity database, etc., have been provided more than six thousands datasets to the public within China. 6. Geoinformation work of CGS in the near future So far, more than 30 country wide fundamental geo-databases are developed. Most of them are released within the survey and to the public. There is still a gap, however, exist between the database and the public, due to both data utilization policy and data exchange standards are not yet properly issued in detail. Geo-database development, maintenance, especially database management and issues of metadata and data exchange model are thus become now very important and crucial. It is the key work on the agenda of geo-information work of the CGS. The most important three tasks for 2004 are systematic and standardized database maintenance, field investigation data collection toolkits development and geoinformation standards issue and release. Data dissemination policy is also critical to geoinformation work in CGS.
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