The future research direction and opportunities in earth sciences will be significantly affected both by the availability and utilization of tools and techniques of Information Technology. Researchers in earth sciences are deeply involved in discovering the relationships between the observed geological records and the complex processes that have shaped them. The earth has a complex record of the dynamic interaction of plates, earth materials and life that provide clues to the physical and chemical evolution of continents, oceans as well as the atmosphere. The rock record that preserves nearly 4.5 billion years of history has been meticulously gathered through the observations over the centuries, and highlights the scientific problems associated with studies of biodiversity, climate change, planetary processes, and the 4-D architecture and evolution of continents. As the complexities and interactions of these processes are only recently being recognized, it has become evident that an enormous gain in understanding can be realized through the application of modern IT tools to the geosciences. To achieve these objectives Dr. Zakir Husain National University proposes to constitute a National Consortium of Geoscience Programs at universities, colleges and non-profit organizations, and in partnership with the Information Technology Community establish a National Geoscience Data System.

The primary aim is the extraction of knowledge from the rock record through construction of disciplinary databases and developing a fully integrated geosciences information network.

Geoinformatics is an effort planned and organized by the experts of geosciences community to respond to the growing needs for utilizing multidisciplinary geoscience data sets and tools to understand the complex dynamics of the earth systems. The vision of the Geoinformatics community is to create a full-fledged integrated geosciences information network that provides free access to high quality, earth science related data, tools, and services. The fusion of spatial and non-spatial data from all of earth sciences including surficial and internal earth disciplines is needed in order to develop a coherent scientific understanding of the Earth's 4-D evolution and architecture. Info-Tech research in Geoinformatics will focus on knowledge-based mediation as well as information integration techniques for 4D data models; visualization of multiscale, 4D information spaces; data-level interoperability; metadata modeling and interchange; and, metadata-based access to data and services. Issues of scale and time, observational versus analytical data, and interpolated versus interpreted data, pose unique challenges for Geoinformatics.

Careers are in Land Surveying, Geographical Information Systems and Spatial Science and IT

Geoinformatics Information related to the earth is fundamental to successful management of natural resources and the physical and human environment. Geographic information systems, geoinformatics and surveying are concerned with the collection, analysis and display of information related to land, environment, people and natural resources.