Abstract: The Potential of Electronic Maps for Environmental Geoscience Applications

McCOLLOCH, JR., GAYLE H., and JANE S. McCOLLOCH
West 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