U.S. Geological Survey

[Responses (%) by various groups of respondents to the question of how geologic maps are used. Major uses (50%) are printed in bold italic typeface for each group. a, Support of engineering and design activities; b, Support of environmental assessment or impact statements; c, Development of site specific evaluations; d, Support of remedial studies/feasibility studies; e, Support of land-use planning; f, Academic studies (instruction, research); g,  Other]

Respondent Group

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Government: Federal

19

59

53

28

34

59

34

Government: Maryland State

17

74

66

24

34

26

16

Government: County/City

55

60

30

35

55

10

0

Education: K-12

19

35

23

19

31

92

19

Education: College

9

31

20

6

23

91

17

Consultants: Civil Engineering

88

79

81

67

49

5

2

Consultants: Environmental Engineering

60

93

79

77

33

7

10

Consultants: Geological/Engineering Geology

73

73

86

59

41

14

36

 

Archaeologists (private and government)

5

59

50

9

23

50

41

Ecologists/Biologists (private and govt)

15

74

52

22

41

33

37

Hydrologists (private and govt)

56

81

75

54

47

21

24

 

Totals for 319 respondents

35

60

54

34

32

37

22

For the total 319 respondents, environmental assessment and site-specific evaluations are the major uses of geologic maps. Both of these uses need large-scale maps (that is, 1:24,000 or larger). The other listed uses are in a virtual tie (32-37 percent). Underscoring the broad application of geologic maps is the fact that 319 respondents marked a total of 868 uses of geologic maps in their work--an average of 2.8 uses per respondent. This shows that geologic maps have great versatility and applicability; their value or utility is not restricted to a few types of customers or to a few uses.


Return to Results of Statewide User Surveys


This page is URL https://pubs.usgs.gov/circular/c1148/t7.html
Last modified 15 April 1998
Maintained by John Watson and Kathie Watson