Application of the U.S. Geoscience Information Network to deploying a National Geothermal Data System

A coalition of State Geological Surveys is expanding and enhancing the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS, www.geothermaldata.org) by creating a national, sustainable, distributed, interoperable network of data providers representing all 50 states that will develop, collect, serve, and maintain geothermal-relevant data that operates as an integral compliant component of NGDS. The data exchange mechanism is built on the U.S. Geoscience Information Network (USGIN) protocols and standards (http://usgin.org, http://lab.usgin.org). Data are exposed from the State Geological Surveys through the NGDS, by digitizing at-risk legacy, geothermal-relevant data (paper records, samples, etc), publishing existing digital data using standard web and data services, and through limited collection of new data in areas lacking critical information. Goals are to enhance states' abilities to preserve and disseminate geothermal data; facilitate geothermal resource characterization and development efforts; expand the scope of data available to the geothermal community; foster new services and applications built by third-parties to take advantage of the system’s capabilities and content; contribute materially to creation of a national geoinformatics system through implementation and deployment of NGDS; and increase operational support for geoinformatics infrastructure through a broader user base.