National Institute for Environmental eScience: MarineXML

MarineXML: a two-day training course

21–22 March 2005

General information

XML (eXtensible Markup Language, the universal format for structured documents and data) is fast becoming the standard language for the representation of data, and thereby giving the means for interoperability between applications. The 'extensible' feature means that developers can define their own tags that are particularly tailored for their specific applications. XML allows people to create their own markup vocabulary, called an XML schema, and XML ensures that a document written with a particular schema can be read by others with access to the same schema.

There are many schema defined for all manner of applications, and the NIEeS is running a series of workshops that focus on schema for different science areas. The second in the series is concerned with MarineXML.

Aims of the workshop

MarineXML is one of the emerging applications of XML for the environmental sciences. MarineXML enables data exchange in marine sciences. It became clear during the workshop on Remote Sensing that there is a need for basic training in MarineXML, which is the motivation for this workshop. The workshop will provide basic training in XML in general and MarineXML in particular to marine scientists and oceanographers in order to enable them to take full advantage of a marine escience infrastructure.

The workshop will be run by Keiran Millard (HR Walingford) and Roger Longhorn (MIT and London). It will be based on a mixture of lectures, live demonstrations and practical sessions.

Target audience

This workshop is aimed at anyone who is interested in the use of XML. The focus being on MarineXML, the examples being used will be concerned with marine sciences and oceanography applications, but the principles will be of much wider interest.

Programme

Day 1: Monday 21st March

10.30	Registration and coffee
11.00	Introduction to the workshop
11.10	The what and the why of data interoperability • What does interoperability mean in practice? • What practical steps exist and what’s the bigger picture? • Data and metadata – what’s the difference and who cares?
11.40	The what and why of data and metadata - from first principles • discovery, access, exploitation, standards • content, structure, encoding and portrayal
12.10	Understanding Semantics • Dictionaries, glossaries, thessauri • Grammer and vocabularies • what is a formal ontology?
12.40	Role of standards • brief presentation and interdependencies - ISO, CEN, OGC, national standards • why it matters (even if its boring to discuss!)
13.00	Lunch
14.00	XML - Part 1: Introduction • What’s so excellent about XML? • Encapsulating semantics in a formal, machine-readable way
14.30	XML - Part 2: Getting to know the XML family • XML Schema and Namespaces • XSLT – Data transformations
15.00	XML - Part 3: Getting your hands dirty • Encoding your data in XML
15.30	Coffee/tea
16.00	Community Schema • Where schemas have been agreed and the services provided • SVG, CML, GML • Schemas in the marine and coastal domain.
16.30	MarineXML Introduction • IOC/IODE involvement in marineXML work past, present and future • What is MarineXML all about? SGXML and EU MarineXML • What support can it give to services such as EuroGOOS and GMES
17.00	Closing comments for the day and Q&A session
17.15	Introduction to Day 2
19.00	Workshop reception
19.30	Workshop dinner

Day 2: Tuesday 22nd March

9.30	MarineXML Project Outputs • Logic and rationale • Schemas, examples and test bed • Support and acceptance
10.15	MarineXML “Practical” session • Practical experiences from different marine communities • MarineXML test bed and CSML • Using CSML in your organisation • Future Steps
11.00	Coffee/tea
12.00	Metadata revisited • Ontologies of metadata • NDG Approach to metadata • ISO19115, Dublin Core and DIF
12.30	Coastal/marine metadata in GIgateway
13.00	Lunch
14.00	Putting it all together - Marine and Coastal SDI • What is an SDI? • Inspire and GMES • Marine Data and Information Partnership
14.30	The MOTIIVE Project • GMES and INSPIRE • role of marineXML in MOTIIVE • EUCC involvement - importance of coastal/marine stakeholder involvement • OGC marine/coastal SIG and/or Working Group
15.30	Closing comments
15.45	Coffee/tea and close

Location

The workshop will take place in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge. Details of the location, including travel plans, can be obtained here.

Overnight accommodation is being provided in New Hall, including the conference dinner on the evening of the first day. Accommodation, meals, travel costs and registration for members of the UK academic/research community will be provided free of cost.

Information on travelling to New Hall is available here.

Registration

There is no registration charge, but we need to ask people to register for the workshop in order to book accommodation and plan for meals. This can be done using our on-line form.

Please book early to help with our planning.

In the event of any difficulty in booking, including not receiving an email confirmation within 24 hours, please email the NIEeS office.

Contact and further information

For information about registration, and all other types of queries, please contact the NIEeS office in the first instance.

Last update: Mon, Mar 14, 2005