XMML – a standards conformant XML language for transfer of exploration data

Abstract

eXploration and Mining Markup Language (XMML) is a GML-based catalogue of feature-types used in mineral exploration. XMML includes boreholes, observations, assay data, geophysical data, geological features (rock-unit, fault, etc) and supporting concepts (geological timescale). The GML basis ensures conformance with ISO standards, national Spatial Data Infrastructures, and compatibility with languages developed in other communities, within and outside the geosciences. GML languages are compatible with interfaces such as Web Feature Services (WFS), which provides a GML ``view' of data sourced from GIS and DBMS. GML was developed under the sponsorship of mainly Australian mining and service companies and agencies, who determined the requirements and initial priorities. However, further development of XMML is proceeding in collaboration also with the academic community, international geological surveys. XMML will be standardised through IUGS. XMML provides an open, platform-neutral, standards-conformant means for transfer of exploration data between applications and between organisations. Using XMML and WFS provides for publication of data by data custodians at both fine and coarse-grained level. XMML and WFS/T provide a transactional interface. The Government Geologists Information Management Advisory Committee (GGIPAC), which has partly sponsored XMML, is considering that XMML be a technology for statutory reporting in the near future.