Digital Mapping Techniques '01 -- Workshop Proceedings
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-223

Special Session: Field Data Capture of Geologic Map Information

Digital techniques for preparing and analyzing geologic map information continue to evolve rapidly. This is especially true for preparation, in the office, of GIS-ready products and data sets. There, digital techniques recently have become the conventional means for creating and producing geologic maps. As a result, the data that are used to create these maps can become available to build map databases. In turn, the map databases can be used for sophisticated spatial analyses. We all recognize that, ideally, the principal product of geologic mapping should be a database, from which both analyses and traditional maps can be derived. To most fully address this ideal, digital information must be created not after the maps are produced, but in the field, as the geologic observations and interpretations are being recorded. Otherwise, only the subset of field information deemed suitable for display on the map will be available to the database.

However, field geologists do not yet commonly record their observations in digital form. Many variables contribute to this situation, for example:

• there exists a wide variety of hardware and software tools,
• the cost of these tools is in many cases prohibitive,
• the rate of technological change is high, which causes tools to quickly become obselete,
• systematic, formal evaluations of hardware and software, by field geologists, are few in number,
• the significant differences in geologic setting and topographic conditions in various field areas affect the choice of optimum field system, and perhaps most significantly,
• geologists, like any other group of people, tend to prefer to work with familiar techniques that enhance rather than constrain their activities.

To help provide more information on field data capture systems, previous DMT workshops have included the following presentations and papers on the subject:

Brodaric, Boyan, 2000, Digital Geological Knowledge: From the Field to the Map to the Internet (DMT'00; USGS Open-File Report 00-325; https://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of00-325/brodaric.html). Kramer, J.H., 2000, Digital Mapping Systems for Field Data Collection (DMT'00; USGS Open-File Report 00-325; https://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of00-325/kramer.html).

Walsh, G.J., Reddy, J.E., and Armstrong, T.R., 1999, Geologic Mapping and Collection of Geologic Structure Data with a GPS Receiver and a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) Computer (DMT'99; USGS Open-File Report 99-386; https://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of99-386/walsh.html).

Brodaric, Boyan, 1997, Field Data Capture and Manipulation Using GSC Fieldlog v3.0 (DMT'97; USGS Open-File Report 97-269; https://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of97-269/brodaric.html).

Williams, Van, 1997, Using the GSMCAD Program with GPS for Data Collection in the Field and as a Quick and Efficient Way of Creating Arc/Info Geologic Map Coverages (DMT'97; USGS Open-File Report 97-269; https://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of97-269/williams.html).

At last year's DMT workshop, the attendees asked for a more lengthy focus on field data capture systems. This year's workshop therefore provided a set of oral presentations and hands-on field demonstrations, as an introduction to techniques, software, and hardware used for digital collection of geologic map information in the field. The following presentations were given. These are supported by papers in these Proceedings, except as noted.

"Integrating Field Databases using Data Models in FieldLog," by Boyan Brodaric (Geological Survey of Canada and Pennsylvania State University). For more information, please see his papers cited above.

"Removing Science Workflow Barriers to Adoption of Digital Geological Mapping by Using the GeoMapper Universal Program and Visual User Interface," by George H. Brimhall and Abel Vanegas (University of California, Berkeley).

"Using Handheld Personal Computers as Field Data Collection Tools: Some Lessons Learned in the School of Hard Knocks in the Wingate Wash Project and Related Projects using FieldLog/Fieldworker Software Exported to ArcInfo," by Terry L. Pavlis (University of New Orleans) and Jason Little (California Division of Mines and Geology).

"Field Geologic Data Collection with ArcPad and ArcGIS," by Mike Price (ESRI). For more information, please see the section entitled "Vendor Presentations and Contact Information." "Quebec Geomining Information System (SIGÉOM): Field Data Capture module," by Charles Roy (Systeme d'Information geominiere du Quebec [SIGEOM]).

"Conclusions From Four Years Collecting Digital Map Data Using a PDA," by Van Williams (U.S. Geological Survey).

"Development and Use of a Laptop-Based Geological Mapping System: Experiences at the University of Kansas," by R.A. Black and J.D. Walker (University of Kansas).

Also, Steve Bedsole (Geographical and Environmental Data Services, Inc.) provided technical support to the field demonstration portion of the session. For more information, please see the section entitled "Vendor Presentations and Contact Information."