All the
contributions to the topic of fold nappes were indeed very
interesting. However, they would have been even more instructive
if they had been linked to images that would have allowed us more
easily to visualize the geographic and geological context of the offered
observations. Brian Walton's interesting comments, to take one example of
several, on the
Krakvatn-Rebenfjell fold nappe would be more
comprehensible if we could see a map of the structure; and although Alan
Boyle generously provides references, if you don't have online permissions
provided by a University or company, it can take an all-day trek to
the library to find them.
In this
context John Dewey's suggestion that geo-questions
such as the nappe problem could be addressed by multi-input through websites
like this discussion list, rather than through "review, assessment and arid "paperwork"", might
be greatly facilitated if comments containing reference to places and
maps were accompanied by links to a site containing Google Earth kml (kmz)
files relevant to the area (and/'or at least' a link to a pdf of a
relevant paper as per Douwe van Hinsbergen's contribution). Given
that Google Earth should be a well-used item in the tool kit of all structural
geologists, it should be quite easy for anyone of us to add
placemarks and image overlays to a GE ground image at any scale. (One
then also gets the advantage of 3-D geological map drapes;
the ability to discern dip directions and relative angles;
compare map layer interpretations; and create links to references, pdfs,
reviews, comments, updates, photographs, etc.) Going the
extra mile, the images can also easily be annotated to allow personal
input. Anyone not familiar with the practice of creating and
accessing kml files can download a file that can be opened
in GE from the following site:
One problem with this suggestion is
that although it is easy to create a kml file on a personal computer
running GE, you will still need to store your kml AND the map
images refered to by the kml on a server that can be accessed by the
general public, whether such a site is provided by your University (as in the
above case), or made available through your service provider or even your
computer company, e.g. ASUS Eee to name just one.
A central server would be useful -
any volunteers? - but even without a central server, a site with an index
of individual servers populated by kml files would be very useful - perhaps even
more so than the OneGeology site, because the geological devil is usually
in the details at the outcrop level of a high-resolution GE image.
Perhaps the T&G list could host such an index ordered by
Country and Structural Province?
Hope this is of
interest!
Bill
Church