Print this pageAbstract: The Potential of Electronic Maps for Environmental Geoscience Applications
McCOLLOCH, JR., GAYLE H., and JANE S. McCOLLOCHWest Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Morgantown, WV
Geologic maps are very complex documents. The digital conversion of
hard copy geologic maps presents many opportunities for rapid analysis
of 
data
and production of many derivative maps. Although not conceptually
foreign to geologists, many of these analyses have typically not been performed
in the past due to publishing and storage costs or time constraints. Today
geologic data sets can be combined with commonly available GIS data sets,
such as USGS digital raster graphics files (drgs), digital elevation models
(dems), digital line graphs (dlgs) and other data, to enhance the utility
of the original geologic map. As geologic mapping emerges into the digital
age it will be possible to incorporate new data into electronic maps such
as field notes and other similar data.
Application of a unified data model for North America being developed
jointly by the American Association of State Geologists (AASG) and the
USGS will further enhance the utility of the geologic data.
Examples of some of the advantages of utilizing digital data
in place
of hard copy maps for environmental applications utilizing recently completed
work in the rapidly developing Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia near
the Washington, DC - Baltimore metropolitan area and the New River Gorge
National River area will be presented.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90930©1998 AAPG Eastern Section, Columbus, Ohio