International Union of Speleology

About the UIS Informatics Commission (UISIC)

2024-08-22

The Informatics Commission is a body within the International Union of Speleology (UIS). It was formed in 1986 at the 9th International Congress of Speleology, and is dedicated to promoting and advancing the use of informatics within the field of speleology and karst studies. [ Home Page ]

"Informatics: The science of the collection, evaluation, organisation, and dissemination of information, often employing computers." - Collins.

Goals of the Commission

The purpose of the Commission is to encourage and facilitate the systematic collection and responsible use of cave and karst data to advance related exploration, documentation, data sharing, research, management and conservation. Its scope covers the documentation and mapping of caves after exploration trips through to filing systems, databases, data consolidation and exchange, reporting and querying systems, publication techniques, data access and protection techniques, and participation in and utilisation of the Linked Data Internet environment. Its goals are:

  1. Promotion and Advocacy: Promoting the importance and use of informatics in speleology, and advocating and facilitating the adoption of modern techniques and best practices within the field.
  2. Storage and exchange: Encouraging speleologists who wish to implement the long-term storage of data and who participate in their free circulation while respecting the law and protecting the environment.
  3. Research and Innovation: Encouraging and supporting research initiatives and innovative projects that leverage informatics to advance the understanding, exploration, management and conservation of caves and karst.
  4. Education and Training: Facilitating educational opportunities and training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of speleologists in informatics related topics.
  5. Facilitating communication: Managing and promoting collaboration among speleologists through websites, online platforms, forums and further appropriate tools & technologies.
  6. Policy Development: Contributing to the development of policies, guidelines, and standards related to informatics in speleology, in collaboration with other UIS commissions and committees. Take into account rules and recommendations regarding data protection policies, ethics standards and environmental, social and governance (ESG) recommendations with an emphasis on karst & caves protection.

Overall, the Informatics Commission plays a vital role in advancing the field of speleology by leveraging modern technology and methods to enhance exploration, documentation, data sharing, research, management and conservation efforts related to caves and karst worldwide.

Management

After its founding President, Peter Matthews (AU), stepped down from 36 years in the role, the Commission decided to institute a collegial presidency in order to spread the workload, and now operates via a Leadership Team.

The Leadership Team is supported by the sub-commission and project leaders as well as by independent advisors. The team initially consists of the following persons:

Leadership Team
NameCountryRole
Stefan NäffCHPresident, main contact for UIS bureau and formal contacts, responsible for commission internal processes and communications.
Mike LakeAU Vice-President, ensuring continuity and stepping in where needed, coordination of sub-commissions and projects.
Frédéric UrienFRMember, focus on data and standardisation.
Ferdinando DidonnaITMember, focus on scientific/academic interaction or other regional or global authorities.

There is space to accommodate a 5th person in the team in case there is a fitting and motivated candidate, preferably from a country not yet represented.

Methods

The work of the Commission is carried out either in Sub-commissions or in Projects: Sub-commissions for where there is an ongoing role, and Projects for finite tasks which will eventually be completed. Both can be nested to any depth. Our current Sub-commissions and Projects are listed on our Home page. Everyone interested is invited to join in the work - just visit the respective web page and contact the leader.

Apart from tools and technologies that directly serve to elaborate and communicate the tasks of the Commission and the UIS in a wider sense, and the production of products that aid speleology such as the UIS multi-lingual word-list, glossary, and Linked Data Ontology, it does not develop or operate IT systems or databases of cave and karst data of its own. But it can facilitate and advise other organisations in their operation of systems that help advance the Commission's goals and tasks.

To aid communications the Commission has mailing lists and forums. Any mailing lists will be found on the web page for the respective topic.

Site: P. Matthews.