Ministère des Ressources Naturelles
Secteur des mines
Service de la géoinformation
5700, 4e avenue Ouest (A-214)
Charlesbourg, Qc. G1H 6R1
Telephone: (418) 627-6269 (5236)
Fax: (418) 643-2816
e-mail: charles.roy@mrn.gouv.qc.ca
Géologie Quebec is the division of the Mining Sector responsible for field survey and the main geographic information system (SIGÉOM). SIGÉOM has been developed over the last 10 years, with data entry being performed at a rate of US$ 1.2 million per year. It currently holds nearly all of the province's mining vector information. More than 131,000 outcrops, 23,000 faults, 139,000 contacts, 8,000 folds, and 14,000,000 chemical results are stored in SIGÉOM's database. Clients can choose from more than 15,000 products related to geoscientific information (http://www.geologie-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/, products heading).
The system is designed with a corporate perspective. It reflects the mission of the organization, and it supports processes from data capture to data distribution. In this respect, the field data capture modules are no exception. The objectives are both to achieve corporate objectives and to give the maximum flexibility to the end user.
A paper model, called Geofiche, is used by geologists in the field. The information is then transferred to an Oracle database using input forms. Over 140 validations are applied to achieve a high degree of standardization.
This process is located at the end of the Autonomy vs Corporate objectives spectrum. The very structured process minimizes the differences that exist in different geological environments and between field geologists. Although the argument is relevant, the overall possibilities offered by the legend and symbol library give a great number of possible combinations, minimizing the threshold of standardization. The addition, modification and edition of classification parameters, although always subject to management approval, also contribute to the flexibility of the system.
In order to assure that the overall objective of data integration and delivery to clients is uncompromised, nothing is developed independent of the system.
Field data modules are part of the importation function family used to load the system with external data. The Geofiche module is the second version, organised around a highly compatible Oracle environment from a previous one built on a Clipper platform.
The capture of computerized information is done during the field season, at night, using a desktop or a laptop computer that runs Oracle and MicroStation software. Data transfer to SIGÉOM is done at the end of the summer by exporting the Oracle database and re-importing into the SIGÉOM structures. The geometric features are then constructed using highly tailored functions specially designed to build the outcrop description and regional geological features. Using this streamlined procedure, and regardless of the scale or the details, a preliminary map is produced within three months of completion of field work. A final version is then developed, incorporating thin section and geochemical analysis details.