CGA - Composite Gazetteer of AntarcticaCGA - Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica3° SCAGI Meeting3° SCAGI Meeting

Buenos Aires, 31 July - 1 August, 2010Buenos Aires, 31 July - 1 August, 2010

CGA, entrusted to Italy by SCAR in 1992.CGA, entrusted to Italy by SCAR in 1992.

Now, a 18 years old project, is aNow, a 18 years old project, is acooperation between the Italian PNRA and cooperation between the Italian PNRA and the Australian AAD with contributions by all the Australian AAD with contributions by all

SC-AGI MembersSC-AGI Members

CGA, CGA, updating 1 June 2010updating 1 June 2010

Contains Contains 36373 36373 place names place names (including (including 176176 since Amsterdam 2009) since Amsterdam 2009)

Corresponding to Corresponding to 1837918379 geographical features geographical features (including (including 9999 added after Amsterdam 2009) added after Amsterdam 2009)

Provided by Provided by 2222 Countries Countries

New entries New entries from Sept.1, 2009 to May 31, 2010from Sept.1, 2009 to May 31, 2010(*) according to work on Larsemann Hills, Brolsma et al.(*) according to work on Larsemann Hills, Brolsma et al.

BulgariaBulgaria UKUK USAUSA ChinaChina FranceFrance TotalTotal

New featuresNew features 9898 1717 1313 ---- 1414 142142

New adopted namesNew adopted names

---- 44 66 ---- 11 1111

Coordinates amendedCoordinates amended 11 ---- 66 ---- 11 88

Change in nameChange in name ---- 33 1010 ---- 4040 5353

Change in reference number-Change in reference number- ---- ---- 11 42(*)42(*) 77 5050

Descriptions amended-Descriptions amended- ---- 11 ---- ---- 108108 109109

TotalTotal 9999 2525 3636 4242 171171 373373

CGACGA Just a compilation, however…..Just a compilation, however…..

Input data made homogeneousInput data made homogeneousTransliteration and translationTransliteration and translationClassificationClassificationData checkData checkAssociation of names to features Association of names to features Grouping of names around a Grouping of names around a

feature (Unique SCAR ID)feature (Unique SCAR ID)

CGACGA Some choicesSome choices

Exclusion of features Exclusion of features North of 60°SNorth of 60°S

Partial inclusion of man-Partial inclusion of man-made featuresmade features

Exclusion of non official Exclusion of non official namesnames

Inclusion of undersea Inclusion of undersea featuresfeatures

Inclusion of subglacial Inclusion of subglacial featuresfeatures

CGA-GEBCO HarmonizationCGA-GEBCO Harmonization

A project started by H.W. Schenke A project started by H.W. Schenke and R. Cervellati at Buenos Aires and R. Cervellati at Buenos Aires first SC-AGI meeting (Oct.2007).first SC-AGI meeting (Oct.2007).

Carried out by R. Krocker (AWI) in 6 Carried out by R. Krocker (AWI) in 6 months.months.

Set of “proposal for changes” in the Set of “proposal for changes” in the CGA, issued in Sept.2008.CGA, issued in Sept.2008.

CGACGA CGA-GEBCO HarmonizationCGA-GEBCO Harmonization

Differences in geographical Differences in geographical coordinates are partly accounted for coordinates are partly accounted for by the fact that GEBCO contains by the fact that GEBCO contains point, line and spatial features. point, line and spatial features.

National gazetteers and CGA, on the National gazetteers and CGA, on the contrary, contain only point-like contrary, contain only point-like features.features.

CGA-GEBCO HarmonizationCGA-GEBCO Harmonization

The Norwegian reply made a good point. The Norwegian reply made a good point. No other replies.No other replies.CGA will include changes only if they are CGA will include changes only if they are

made in the national gazetteers.made in the national gazetteers.

CGA-GEBCO HarmonizationCGA-GEBCO Harmonization

Krocker took into consideration 74 Krocker took into consideration 74 geographic features. geographic features.

Harmonization required changes in the Harmonization required changes in the generic term, and/or specific name, generic term, and/or specific name, and/or coordinates.and/or coordinates.

7 Countries are involved (ARG, AUS, 7 Countries are involved (ARG, AUS, GBR, NOR, NZL, RUS, USA).GBR, NOR, NZL, RUS, USA).

Relevant info circulated and request for Relevant info circulated and request for comments among Members comments among Members (30.11.2009)(30.11.2009)

CGA and Google EarthCGA and Google Earth

Encouragement from SCAR ExCom:Encouragement from SCAR ExCom: to develop a pan-Antarctic perspective to develop a pan-Antarctic perspective to interact with the SC-ATSto interact with the SC-ATS to advise and look support inside SCAR itsel to advise and look support inside SCAR itsel To implement the Data and Information To implement the Data and Information

Management Strategy (DIMS)Management Strategy (DIMS)

CGA and Google EarthCGA and Google Earth

Paul Woodmam, former Chair of UK APC, Paul Woodmam, former Chair of UK APC, verified the interest of Google Earth in using verified the interest of Google Earth in using CGA names (Nairobi 2010, Int’l Conference CGA names (Nairobi 2010, Int’l Conference on Place Names). on Place Names).

The problem of multiple names and multiple The problem of multiple names and multiple coordinates was suddenly evident.coordinates was suddenly evident.

To obtain that a name be changed is a hard To obtain that a name be changed is a hard task but to improve coordinates looks task but to improve coordinates looks feasible.feasible.

CGA and Google EarthCGA and Google Earth

Henk Brolsma, who prepared the Issues Henk Brolsma, who prepared the Issues Paper on the inconsistencies existing Paper on the inconsistencies existing among the National Gazetteers, among the National Gazetteers,

verified the willingness of SC-AGI’s verified the willingness of SC-AGI’s Members to operate towards an Members to operate towards an improvement of the coordinates, improvement of the coordinates,

obtaining a range of responses from positive obtaining a range of responses from positive to negative or no response at all.to negative or no response at all.

CGA and Google EarthCGA and Google Earth

SC-AGI is in a difficult position betweenSC-AGI is in a difficult position between

the EXCom Policy and DIMSthe EXCom Policy and DIMS and and the impossibility to change anything in the the impossibility to change anything in the

CGA without the consent of the MembersCGA without the consent of the Members

CGA and Google EarthCGA and Google Earth An additional effort is required from SC-AGI in the short An additional effort is required from SC-AGI in the short

term. Suggested points of discussion are:term. Suggested points of discussion are:

improvement of coordinates/feasibility improvement of coordinates/feasibility availability of Members to share the overall burdenavailability of Members to share the overall burden liason of Members with one another to agree to the same liason of Members with one another to agree to the same

coordinates coordinates could a subset of CGA, derived from CGA but different could a subset of CGA, derived from CGA but different

from CGA, provide a product suitable for Google Earth?from CGA, provide a product suitable for Google Earth?

(at present we could only supply Google Earth with the (at present we could only supply Google Earth with the national gazetteers as independent layers of information) national gazetteers as independent layers of information)

CGACGA

Two main products:Two main products:

A web-site continuosly updated A web-site continuosly updated http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scarhttp://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scar//

Two hard-copy Publications (in 1998 e Two hard-copy Publications (in 1998 e 2000) plus a Supplement (in 2004) 2000) plus a Supplement (in 2004) with SCAR’s financial supportwith SCAR’s financial support

CGACGAPlace names areal distribution Place names areal distribution

shows that:shows that:

different Countries apparently different Countries apparently adopted different approaches.adopted different approaches.

Russia and USA gazetteers cover all Russia and USA gazetteers cover all the continent. the continent.

claimant Countries seem to be claimant Countries seem to be mainly interested in the claimed mainly interested in the claimed sector.sector.

other Countries add up other Countries add up comparatively few places namescomparatively few places names

CGACGA Contribution to the Contribution to the international awareness that international awareness that toponymy in Antarctica, even toponymy in Antarctica, even though left to the choices of though left to the choices of Countries, can’t be quite Countries, can’t be quite arbitrary. arbitrary.

There are the SCAR’s There are the SCAR’s recommendations, a recommendations, a coordination (SC-AGI) , a coordination (SC-AGI) , a preset format for editing preset format for editing place namesplace names

CGACGA The practical outcomeThe practical outcome

CGA is most complete and CGA is most complete and updated list (as much as updated list (as much as practicable) of the existing practicable) of the existing names.names.

For every new proposed For every new proposed toponym it is feasible to toponym it is feasible to verify whether the feature verify whether the feature has been already named. has been already named.

CGACGA The presentThe present

AADC of AAD has accomplished AADC of AAD has accomplished the task of moving the CGA data-the task of moving the CGA data-base into a new server, adding base into a new server, adding new fields and new search new fields and new search capabilities, fully refurbishing the capabilities, fully refurbishing the web site. web site.

Cooperation between Italy and Cooperation between Italy and Australia is excellent.Australia is excellent.

In the near futureIn the near future Tackling the multiple coordinates problemTackling the multiple coordinates problem perhaps establishing a task force inside the SC-perhaps establishing a task force inside the SC-

AGIAGI To assess the size of the problem and its To assess the size of the problem and its

relationship at different scalesrelationship at different scales To set up a medium term program (on the web To set up a medium term program (on the web

and/or on the field) for the adhering Countriesand/or on the field) for the adhering Countries To obtain the involvement of Countries. To obtain the involvement of Countries. Countries to cooperate. Their work to be Countries to cooperate. Their work to be

acknowledged.acknowledged.