Geoscience after IT: Part B. Benefits from information technology, and an example from geological mapping of the need for a broad view

Information technology can lead to more efficient, versatile and less costly ways of supplying and using information. The familiar paper journals and books of the geoscience literature are being supplemented, and some supplanted, by electronic versions offering new facilities. Geoscience repositories gain efficiency and flexibility in storage, management, access and presentation of data. Global standards help communication, sharing of facilities, integration of ideas, collaboration and delegation of decisions. An example from geological mapping illustrates how a broad view of computer methods leads, not just to better ways of delivering the same product, but to more fundamental improvements in expressing, sharing and generalizing the geologists' conceptual models. Familiarity with existing systems can blind us to their shortcomings: familiar methods may hide assumptions that are no longer relevant. The example suggests that maps, reports and supporting evidence can be linked by hypertext in a tightly connected model. Targeted distribution of appropriate, up-to-date information can replace the high-cost scattergun approach of conventional publication. This leads to a tentative identification of user needs.