The Current Role of Geological Mapping in Geosciences: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Innovative Applications of GIS in Geological Cartography Kazimierz Dolny, Poland 24–26 November 2003

304 Pages·2005·11.592 MB·English

by  Kristine Asch (auth.), Stanisław R. Ostaficzuk (eds.)

The Current Role of Geological Mapping
in Geosciences
NATO Science Series
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Series IV:Earth and Environmental Sciences – Vol.56
The Current Role of Geological
Mapping in Geosciences
edited by
Stanis-law R.Ostaficzuk
Department of Fundamental Geology,
Faculty of Earth Sciences,
University of Silesia,
Poland
Published in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on
Innovative Applications of GIS in Geological Cartography
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
24 – 26 November 2003
A C.I.P.Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN-10 1-4020-3550-0 (PB)
ISBN-13 978-1-4020-3550-0 (PB)
ISBN-10 1-4020-3549-7 (HB)
ISBN-13 978-1-4020-3549-4 (HB)
ISBN-10 1-4020-3551-9 (e-book)
ISBN-13 978-1-4020-3551-7 (e-book)
Published by Springer,
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From the Editor:
The unavoidable innovation of Geological Cartography
- The goals, concepts, and problems of modern
geological mapping
Geological Cartography is the most important tool for exploration and
presentation of geological knowledge. Geological maps with their related databases
are getting more comprehensive, complex and sophisticated with the help of
electronic information technologies. In follows of the current trends, the
environmental issues are getting more and more important in understanding of the
interaction between the Man and the Nature, and that is the key to securing global
sustainability for the next generations.
A group of concerned geologists gathered together at the Advanced
Research Workshop (ARW) on Innovative Geological Cartography in the Kazimierz
Dolny, Poland in November 2003. It was an opportunity for direct exchanging of
opinions on the future and role of geology in the modern society, presentation of
current works, ideas and achievements in adapting modern cartographic
technologies into geology for better servicing the needs of Man. The ad hoc
collected and immediately published in the bimonthly Technika Poszukiwa(cid:276) were
extended abstracts, picture presentations and some elaborative papers comprising
almost complete selection of the ARW topics, i.e.:
1 - The problem of standards in modern geological cartography;
2 - The new technologies and methodologies, and results of their application;
3 - The decline of geology due to inadequate dealing with challenges of
contemporary world.
The whole issue was supplemented with The Summary, Conclusions and
Recommendations of the ARW, edited with great effort by the Recommendations
Committee editors, and dedicated as the important document with the logo of NATO
for Science to all, who are concerned (attached in-extenso next to this Introduction).
The current book is composed with most of the re-edited ARW papers,
reviewed by Dr Earl Brabb*), and supplemented with new contributions by, both,
former participants of the ARW and other authors, who present their views and/or
excerpts of their geological mapping achievements with the aid of electronic
technologies. For that reason, a new title was given: “The Current Role of
Geological Mapping in Geosciences”. The whole presented material naturally falls
into two groups of different topics. At the front are grouped papers dedicated to the
problems of standardization in geological mapping, the decline of basic
“conservative” geology, and the concepts of restoring the position of geosciences in
modern economies. The following group of papers reports and presents advanced
geological mapping activities in various countries. While having on mind the recent-
most decisions undertaken by International Stratigraphic Committee, the Editor has
decided not to remove from the book so well known words we are still accustomed
to - the Tertiary and Quaternary. They were not deleted due to sympathy to authors,
however, it must be clearly stated here, that their use was quite informal.
The would-be Readers of this book are kindly advised to pay special
attention to vigorous polemics with some Authors initiated by Earl Brabb in his
v
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reviews. Besides, as from his regular paper-contribution appears clearly, that "nihi
novum sub Sole". In the USA, in Europe alike, geological bureaucrats had and still
have much impact on the fate of geology in the current world. They undoubtedly
have contributed to the widening gap between the current information technologies
(IT), and the geological mapping, which should be the main user of IT. The last
paper, by David Soller & Thomas Berg, was added to the ARW materials with the
hope to having the creative pain of geoscientists eased in their attempts for making
various databases reliable and accessible. What is especially interesting is the
unbelievable great number of institutions and organizations dealing with geological
mapping in the USA. And, the USA is still waiting for having her country
completely covered with detail geological map.
Another truth appeared from the presented collection of papers. Different
scientific background and cultural environments may cause difficulties in
professional communication. All contributors represent high professional skill, and
high position within the Geoscience. All are active practitioners, supervise or make
geological maps personally, but a merit of their contribution to the book was to some
extent lost in the translation, what made the Reviewer confused.
The Editor would like to take this opportunity for expressing his gratitude
to the NATO Science Committee, without of which support neither the ARW on
modern geological mapping could be held in Poland, nor its results could be
published. Another words of gratitude are thus directed to the Kluwer Academic
Publishers (now Springer), fortheir help in final shaping and issuing this book.
Specially, editor is indebted to dr Alison Lusty, who has English-adjusted,
re-formatted and corrected most of the texts in this book, battling with strange
idioms, professional jargon and unifying variety of international English languages.
And the last message to the readers - the Kluwer Academic Publishers
kindly agreed to supplement this book with a true folded sheet of innovative map
belonging to the paper by Bertolini et al. and for those who may meet difficulties in
understanding grey pictures the Publisher added a CD with text full colour pictures.
Stanis-law Ostaficzuk
Division of Structural Analyses and Geological Cartography,
Minerals and Energy Economy Research Centre
Polish Academy of Sciences
==================_________________________________________
*)Dr. Earl Brabb is a scientific pioneer in the development of Geographic Information
Systems for the preparation of geological hazard maps. His maps of San Mateo
County near San Francisco, California have been used to greatly restrict development
in hazardous areas, reducing the potential number of houses from 500,000 to only
2,500. His analyses of economic costs associated with landslides in the United States,
his encouragement of geologists who have produced similar information for other
countries, and his reports on innovative techniques for making landslide maps have
given him widespread recognition in the international community.
He is the only American geologist to receive the prestigious Sergey Soloviev
Medal from the European Geophysical Society, and a Distinguished Service Citation
and Medal from the Italian National Research Council. He is co-editor of a book on
the geographic and economic extent of landslides in the world and the author of a
chapter on the extent of the landslide problem in the United States. His career was
recognized at a Special Symposium of the Association of Engineering Geologists in
San Jose, California, in September 2000.
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations
Kazimierz Dolny, Nov. 26, 2003
PREAMBLE
In November 2003, 29 geological mapping experts from four
continents (see the attached list) met for three days in Kazimierz Dolny,
Poland at the NATO ARW I.G.C. Workshop. The objectives of the
workshop were to discuss innovative techniques for geological
cartography and to make recommendations pertinent to constructing
modern geological maps and information systems, maintaining key
databases, and delivering relevant geological information to the widest
possible range of users.
Five recommendations to NATO and governments are made to
better ensure that society is provided with the geological information it
requires and that nations have appropriate funding and support needed
to make crucial water and resource decisions, ensure adequate
environmental protection, and deal with earth hazards, such as
earthquakes and landslides.
1) Products to Serve the Widest Possible Range of Users
Products of geological research and surveying need to be designed to
provide services to meet the needs of not only earth scientists but also other
potential users, in fields such as the environment, sustainable development,
resources, education, public health and national security.
While conventional geological maps will remain an important
geological product, there is an increasing need for user-defined, web-
accessible geoscience information services.
Recommendation: Digital geological information systems that conform
to international standards should be developed to deliver both standard
and customized products and services.
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2) Need for Standards
Digital geological datasets must be compatible with each other and
also with other national and international map data to facilitate continuity
and consistency across boundaries and to facilitate sharing and preservation
of information.
Recommendation A: Geological agencies must define, agree, and adopt
common standards. The International Union of Geological Sciences,
Commission on the Management and Application of Geoscience
Information (CGI) –
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/cgi_web
was endorsed by participants as an appropriate mechanism to
encourage development of appropriate standards.
Recommendation B: Geological information delivery requires that high
quality topographic and other base-map information be freely available
to users.
3) Technology and Expertise Transfer
Different institutions and countries are at different stages in the
progression from previous geologic mapping methods to new digital
mapping and associated data management, analysis, and delivery systems.
Recommendation: There is an urgent need to accelerate transfer of
technology and expertise among nations through workshops, staff
exchanges, and inter-agency sharing of resources.
4) Geology for Public Health, Safety, and National
Security
Geological knowledge provides key information to support analysis
and mitigation of natural hazards such as landslides, earthquakes, and
groundwater contamination. It also provides information about resources
that are strategically important to all nations.
Recommendation:Geological information must be delivered with
appropriate quality and accuracy statements. Information providers
should work to establish and promulgate appropriate mechanisms for
delivery of information that conveys the degree of confidence placed on
the data provided.
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5) Geological Information at Risk
Government geological survey agencies must establish a balance
between new data acquisition and management of the existing information
resource. It is a fact that large quantities of invaluable geological data
representing billions of dollars of past investment are not being managed
adequately or according to modern standards.
Recommendation:Measures must be taken to reduce the risk of
valuable and unique information from becoming inaccessible or lost.
(Prof. Stanis-law Ostaficzuk)
for:
The Editorial Committee for:
the Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations,
the NATO Advanced Research Workshop
onInnovative Geological Mapping
/-/ Richard Berg, USA,
/-/ John Broome, Canada,
/-/ Jean-Paul Cadet,France,
/-/ Ian Jackson, UK,
/-/ Peter T. Lyttle U.S.A.
/-/ Stanis(cid:225)aw Ostaficzuk, Poland,
/-/ Werner Stackebrandt, Germany,
/-/ Harvey Thorleifson, USA and Canada
./.
Enclosure to The Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations