(1. China Geo University Beijing100083; 2. Development Research Center of China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037)
Based on the research and analysis of the design concept, information content, information quality and technical level of websites of USGS, BGS and GA, this paper puts forward the service concept of "people-oriented" and "customer-oriented" in the construction of geological information service websites in China, clarifies the design style of websites, rationally configures the contents of web pages and optimizes the navigation function of websites.
Keywords: Enlightenment from Geological Data Service Website
Geological data service website is an important window for foreign service and a portal for users to obtain geological data information resources. In recent years, the construction of geological data service websites in China has made progress in different degrees in quantity and information content. However, there are still many shortcomings in the construction of this website, such as static information as the main content and single online service. In contrast, foreign geological data service websites are built earlier, with advanced technology and high degree of geological information. In this paper, the websites of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Australian Geological Survey (GA), which have a high degree of geological information service in the world, are selected as the objects, and are studied and analyzed from four aspects: website design concept, information content, information quality and technical level, with a view to providing reference for the construction of geological information service websites in China.
1 website design concept
The most intuitive criterion for evaluating the quality of a website is to look at the design of each homepage of the website. Looking at the overall situation of foreign geological data service websites, its design concept has the following five characteristics:
1. 1 service-oriented.
On the whole, foreign geological data service websites run through the whole portal with the service concept as the leading factor, always attach great importance to customer service, adhere to the principle of customer first, and always regard customers as an important part of their strategic planning.
1.2 unified design style
Each homepage of the website is a pattern of interlaced words and pictures, and the design style is simple and unified. Take the homepage of land, energy and minerals and the homepage of earth monitoring of GA website as examples. Their distribution patterns have similar and unified design styles (Figure 1).
Figure 1 GA Website Earth Energy Mineral Homepage and Earth Monitoring Homepage
1.3 simplification principle
The homepage form of foreign geological data service websites is relatively simple, and the text arrangement and column presentation are extremely simple. The information in the selected column on the homepage is focused, which is convenient for readers to use the website. The purpose of readers using the website is to retrieve the information they need quickly and accurately.
1.4 public service concept
The information service content of foreign geological data service websites is not distributed according to the internal organizational structure of website owners, but according to the needs of readers. The website designs the information structure of the website by using the well-selected theme retrieval method of combining pictures and texts and the retrieval interface familiar to the public, so that the information distribution of the website is closer to the public.
1.5 interactive service
The pages of the website are mainly dynamic, and the interactive technology of the website is high. According to the information provided and the individual needs of readers, the service can be changed from passive to active. Mainly manifested in: ① the powerful information retrieval function in the station; ② Put all kinds of forms related to website services on the website for readers to download and handle; (3) Online consultation and online question answering by geological experts; (4) Make geological popular science knowledge materials into interactive learning software, and learn geological knowledge at the same time in interesting interaction.
2 Information content
Foreign geological data service websites have a wide range of contents, belonging to comprehensive websites, involving almost the whole field of geological science, such as regional geological survey, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geological disasters, mineral resources, water resources, energy, environment and geological science knowledge.
(1) The homepage of USGS website can basically reflect the main information contained in this website. Its home page provides portal links to five disciplines: biology, geography, geology, geospatial and water resources. In addition to the navigation buttons and links of various information channels and services, it also adopts the form of plate information to make users clear at a glance.
(2) The information provided by BGS website is divided into three parts: BGS scientific research, BGS service and popular geology. BGS scientific research includes current geological survey and monitoring projects; BGS service provides various types of digital data, publications and data download and sales services for different objects. Popular Geology provides popular science for geological educators, enthusiasts and everyone in society [2].
(3) The home page of GA website provides information portals of different disciplines, such as energy resources assessment, onshore energy and minerals, ground monitoring, natural disasters, surveying and mapping and GPS, groundwater, etc. Entering different disciplines, you can find all kinds of information and data as needed, such as maps, publications, databases, metadata, etc.
3 Information quality
Compared with domestic information service websites, the characteristics of foreign countries include authority, pertinence, timeliness and enjoyment. All these can be used as the basis for evaluating the information quality of the website and show the powerful function of geological information service.
3. 1 information authority
The authority of geological information is mainly manifested in the control and restriction of information release and service, and the geological information service is completed by the compilation department of geological survey institutions. Readers and users must use it according to the relevant regulations of geological information service [1]. Service providers must also provide corresponding information services in accordance with relevant regulations.
3.2 Information Relevance
The pertinence of information is that the pointer provides different information for different needs. With the continuous expansion of social demand for geological achievements, users who use geological achievements show the characteristics of diversification and stratification. Obviously, it is difficult for a single result expression to meet the needs of different users. For example, USGS has developed a "on-demand drawing" geological map database, which uses Internet technology to face different users. BGS provides targeted information services for different customers, such as online database and library information retrieval, laboratories, libraries and related training for academic and scientific researchers.
3.3 Timeliness of information
The timeliness of information determines the timeliness of information service, and updating information content in time should be an essential advantage of a good website. Some information of foreign geological data service websites is frequently updated. The real-time information of natural disasters such as earthquake, landslide, flood and drought provided by USGS website is very useful for timely decision-making. GA has set up an up-to-date information column to publish the latest literature, geological related products and news.
3.4 Information * * * Enjoy
The enjoyment of information means that an information service can be enjoyed by multiple customers. With the continuous expansion of the field of geoscience services, the socialized service of geoscience knowledge and geological data is breaking through the boundaries of local departments and gradually expanding to other government departments, institutions and commercial institutions. For example, the one-stop service project of spatial data being carried out by USGS is a model of multi-sector joint social service of geological data. Through the mechanism of resource integration and sharing, we will provide unified services and improve the ability of the public and the government to use geospatial data.
4 technical level
Foreign geological data service websites have high technical content and powerful geological information service functions. Their development involves many technologies, including distributed database technology, Web GIS technology, standards-based Web service technology, metadata technology, website design technology and standards-based interoperability technology. , realizing the remote transmission of geospatial information and data, interactive inquiry, interactive communication and exchange between service providers and service objects [2].
5. Enlightenment to the construction of geological data information service website in China
Through the above summary of the characteristics of foreign geological data information service websites, some enlightenment for the construction of geological data information service websites in China has been formed.
5. 1 Service concept of "people-oriented" and "customer first"
Compared with foreign geological information service websites, China's geological information service websites, especially those of China Geological Survey, should change the existing construction ideas, highlight the geological information service functions, and embody the website service concept of "people-oriented" and "user-oriented", which is embodied in the following aspects: ① From the guiding ideology of website construction, provide the most convenient, fast and systematic geological information service with users as the center; ② In the design of website pages, we should pay attention to users' convenient login and quick navigation, properly use dynamic scripts, graphics and visual effects to provide services for users, and use high technology to provide self-service projects. ③ Establish an interactive platform and emphasize communication with users. Users can ask questions or suggestions through e-mail, bulletin board system and online chat [3].
5.2 Clarify the design style of the website and rationally allocate the content of the webpage.
Website construction is a systematic project with reasonable positioning and scientific planning based on certain design concepts, and its design should reflect knowledge, education, interest and interaction. At present, the design style of geological information service websites in China is not uniform, and the content distribution is uneven and complicated. Under the situation of modern information service, the construction of China geological data service website should be simple and generous, and the page should adopt a unified style that can reflect the theme of the website. Layout and color matching require harmony and consistency to create a good visual effect. As far as possible, the combination of graphics and text should be adopted to ensure that users can obtain the required information in time and quickly.
5.3 Optimize website navigation function
Information service has become an important development trend of geological service, and portal website is an important platform for providing services. The website has huge information resources and complex disciplines. A good website navigation system can help users find the information they need in time and quickly. At present, the navigation of domestic geological data service websites is very messy, and it takes a lot of time for customers to find information, which will seriously affect the authority and service efficiency of geological service websites. It is very feasible to optimize the navigation function of China geological data service website. Website designers can strengthen the navigation function of the page and add website maps.
5.4 Carry out personalized service functions
Personalized service refers to providing services that meet individual needs according to different needs of users. Personalized information service under the new information environment has made new development, changing passive service into active service, which can not only provide personalized environment according to users' personal hobbies or characteristics to meet users' specific needs and actively recommend information to users, but also provide a more powerful communication platform and functions integrated with other modules to provide users with humanized information services [4]. China's geological data service website can carry out various forms of personalized services according to actual needs, and form an online service that is user-centered and integrates functions such as consultation, information retrieval and document delivery.
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