Hi,
Although I will still personally stick with my Brunton compass and analogue notebooks, for those who are interested, there is already an iPhone app called Lambert, having the features proposed by Malcolm. With it one can measure the orientations of lines and planes, store the coordinates of the measuring locations and export the data to PC in ascii-format. As a plus, it has a built-in stereonet viewer for the measurments. If I remember correctly, it costs around three euros in the app store, so it's a bargain.
Cheers,
Jussi Mattila
-----Original Message-----
From: Tectonics & structural geology discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Malcolm McClure
Sent: 07. huhtikuuta 2011 1:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Good softwares for drawing geological maps and outcrop/texture sketches? (Toshi Shimamoto)
Dear Colleagues
I recognise and endorse the value of good sketches in a field notebook, and made many over the years, but fell far short of the standard I saw penned by Geoff Larminie on the North Slope. There is, however a modern way to achieve excellent geological results using an iPhone 4.
This phone has great potential to become the field geologists' essential companion, replacing the Brunton Compass, as accurate compass readings come as standard and a very accurate Clinometer by Peter Breitling can be downloaded from the App Store. There will undoubtedly be a market for the enterprising if someone can combine these functions to record serial dip/strike readings with the built-in GPS co-ordinates in some future App. These readings could then be down-loaded onto a GIS map.
The iPhone 4 can also be used as a sketchpad using the Brushes app by Steve Sprang. This app provides a simple sketchpad for basic ideas. It can also, in the field, import photos taken by the iPhone 4's built in camera. These photos then form a layer that can be immediately annotated with geological observations.
To say nothing of the safety value of having a mobile phone in the field.
Best wishes
Malcolm McClure
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