GML-based 3D spatial data model for geoscience information in coal mines

It is becoming increasingly important to be able to query and exchange digital geoscientific information between data providers and users. Efficient data interchange over the Web requires standardizing data exchange formats and describing the geometric and semantic representation of 3D spatial objects in an underground coal mine. A spatial data model is presented to integrate subsurface features in an existing concept and thematic semantics for the top-level objects in coal mines. The model is designed using UML, and the XML implementation is a GML application schema, making it compatible with standard service interfaces for geospatial data published by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The digital representation of coal mines may be thought of as a set of features - geological features, roadway features and equipment features, inheriting from GML class. The model also defines the relations for the most relevant topographic objects in coal mines by using XLinks and extending the concept of `aspect' defined in the Geoscience Spatial Framework from the British Geological Survey. The partitioning of the geological model and roadway features is introduced to demonstrate the feasibility of the model for visualization purposes and thematic queries.