Design of geological data systems for developing nations

For analytical, inventory, and a variety of other basic types of geological data the main functions of an information management system can adequately be accommodated by simple systems in which comprehensiveness is compromised in favor of practicality and ease of implementation. Albeit possessing some shortcomings, such a strategy is likely to prove profitable particularly to geologists in developing nations who are confronted with the task of self-developing much needed geological data systems in the face of limited electronic data processing resources. Based on the experience of the Geological Survey of Israel, several considerations and practical guidelines for the design and implementation of such systems can be outlined. Data bases should be limited in their scope to specific subjects or projects, be designed to serve existing and only the more realistic foreseeable needs, and include provisions for merger and intelligent communication with related files. Such data bases typically contain logically simple-structured information and are small in size. Revision, deletion, and update transactions are infrequent; the search criteria for retrieval are for the most part predictable and a fast response time is not essential. These attributes prescribe a preference for simple fixed- or semi-free-format sequential files which, in turn, simplify appreciably the programming of the supporting software. Input forms should be meticulously planned with due consideration given to aspects of software compatibility, user convenience and acceptance, and efficiency in data gathering. The use of standard forms should be integrated into the institution's routine to facilitate direct data entry by each contributor, thereby improving and economizing the data collection process, and to secure data capture at its acquisition level (field, laboratory). The user's more immediate retrieval needs are adequately satisfied by a master list, documenting the entire data base and a number of external inverted index directories cross-referencing the master list according to the attributes by which the file is most likely to be searched. Further development of output capabilities should be directed to provide for flexible retrieval by multikey query functions and base map posting. For data files storing raw chemical analyses of rocks and water samples, the incorporation of processing capabilities to compute interpretative geochemical parameters as an integral part of the system's output is particularly useful. Paper presented at the 25th International Geological Congress, Section 16A, Sydney, Australia, August 1976.