I am still old fashioned, using my field book to
take notes and sketch outcrop figures, then use
MapInfo with the Discover add-in as a GIS
program, exporting it to CorelDraw for the final
figures. But that is not what I am getting at.
Recently (Jan 2010), Cees Passchier and Ulrike
Exner published a paper in the Journal of the
Geological Society of India (vol. 75, issue 1)
where they discuss all digital field notes and
map-making using a Trimble field computer. The
following is an excerpt from the paper where they talk about the software:
"The software we use to monitor data in the
process of normal mapping with a standard GPS
with a resolution of 5-10m is Discover Mobile™
from the company Encom™, a program that is cloned
on Pitney Bowes-MapInfo™. Discover Mobile™ is
actually a simplified, pocket PC version of
MapInfo, but adapted for geologists with added
features such as geological symbols, and the
possibility to enter measurement data of
geological structures, well data, cross-sections etc."
Though I am not yet as digital as the authors, I
found it quite interesting to read, and it has
its merits: Field notes, sketches (albeit
digital), measurements and photographs are all
cross-connected with a geological map. As I am
currently leaving through 10 years old field
notes, I have to admit, much to my shame, that
not all data of every entry is unequivocal, e.g.
some information got lost in time and space....
I recommend to have a look at the paper, it can
be downloaded from the journal's website, if not, send me a message.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/0016-7622/75/1/
All the best,
Jochen
***************************************************************************
Dr. Jochen Mezger
Lehrbeauftragter - Lecturer
Allgemeine Geologie
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg Tel.: 49-0-345-5526120
Institut für
Geowissenschaften Fax: 49-0-345-5527220
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3
06120 Halle Email: [log in to unmask]
GERMANY
http://www.geologie.uni-halle.de/igw/allgeo/staff/mez.html
http://allgeo.geologie.uni-halle.de/mitarbeiter/jmezger/
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