Digital Mapping Techniques '03 — Workshop Proceedings
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–471

FOREWORD

When one looks at the history of science, the notion of a geologic map is a comparatively new scientific concept. The first geologic map of a large area was produced in England by William Smith, a mere 200 years ago. During a recent visit to the British Geological Survey (BGS), I had the opportunity to learn of their advances in geologic mapping during the last 2 centuries. I was amazed at the current effort to catalog and make all of their mapping holdings digital and more accessible to their various users. The British Isles are perhaps the most geologically mapped part of the planet. However, I was shown the results of an effort to develop a seamless geologic map of Great Britain from their mapped quadrangles. As you would expect, the map looked more like a quilt than a seamless representation of the geology.

The reasons for this problem are many, including varying interpretations of field observations. However, many problems are related to the lack of mapping standards. To me, that fact highlights the importance of this conference and the several that have proceeded it. Clearly, the development of digital mapping standards will serve us well in the future. Consensus and well considered standards will focus our attention on the major scientific issues and differences in interpretation, and will minimize our difficulties in separating legitimate scientific issues from those caused by differences in the standards or methods used to describe geologic features and compile maps. These standards should lead to products that will be far more understandable to the public. William Smith’s geologic map was born from very practical needs. I think that even after 200 years, he would be among the first to applaud these efforts and the progress that has been made to date.

The First Digital Mapping Techniques Workshop was held in 1997 in Lawrence, Kansas, with the goal of “developing more cost-effective, flexible, and useful systems for digital mapping and GIS analysis”. This joint effort of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been a great success, and instrumental in the sharing of ideas, technologies, and methods that will truly contribute to the development of digital geologic map products and standards designed to better serve society’s needs in the future. It was a great pleasure to welcome the participants of the sixth annual workshop in Millersville, Pennsylvania. Enormous progress has been made since the first workshop, but much work remains. This volume, like those from previous workshops that document the “state of the science” in digital mapping techniques, is an important legacy of the outstanding progress being made.

P. Patrick Leahy
U.S. Geological Survey
Associate Director for Geology