Thanks Ian - looks like you have it right! Let me emphasize the utility of Google Earth + overlays + '3D' capability + image cache in getting a student to study and become familiar with an area before they actually get there. As someone has already mentioned, much field activity these days involves ground truthing existing 'feet on the ground' maps, often with different geological interpretations!, and predictive maps based on satellite image analysis. 'Pre-field' study is therefore in my opinion a warranted and very important activity.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ian Robert Sharp
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 6:29 AM
Subject: Re: Digital geological mapping
Hi
Quick comment from industry side. We are actively engaged in field work in many (often remote and logistically challenging) parts of the world.
Simplistically, we use a combination of traditional (notebook, map sheets, pencil, coloured pens etc etc) and digital (GPS, LiDAR, PCs/Toughbooks with sat and map data, real-time GPS tracking etc etc) techniques, and we feel this works well. I suspect this will be the way for some years to come, and certainly we look for students who have both skill sets.
We use a similar approach to teaching field courses, e.g. "virtual field trips" using sat, Google Earth and LiDAR data pre field course, and in the evenings on field courses so that participants can revisit and examine the outcrops they saw during the day, and ask questions that there was not time for in the field. During the day we use a limited number of large paper map/stratigraphic print outs and A0 sketch pads to convey concepts or to sketch field relationships, and have the participants to do the same in their notebooks - as has been pointed out by several in the discussions, sketching and recording data in a notebook reinforces the need for careful observation and then interpretation. We promote a similar approach to working with seismic data (observation and sketching first, then digital manipulation/capture)
The big digital changes in field work for us over the last 10 years have been the ability to work data up in the evenings whilst on field work, the ability to capture outcrops quantitatively for later examination (LiDAR), and the ability to plan the following days activities using sat and GPS systems whilst in the field camp
Rgds
Ian
Best regards,
Ian Sharp, Ph.D
Specialist, Exploration Research, Global Basin Analysis
TPD RD EXP GBA
Statoil ASA
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Tectonics & structural geology discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Lloyd
Sent: 14. april 2011 11:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Digital geological mapping
Hi Everyone,
I've followed this thread with great interest, believing that the pencil/notebook/paper map/stereonet approach is the essential first step but that modern digital opportunities should be grasped subsequently if they clearly involve benefit (although from bitter experience, students need to know the traditional ways first before succumbing to the 'black boxes'). However, that's not my reason for posting, which is to respond to Bill Church's comment on Ben Peach etc. & in particularly: '. his maps, and I may be wrong here, also do not show outcrop occurrences, something that would be of interest in terms of what is observed and what is inferred'. This is absolutely correct. This approach seems to have been an innovation of Edward Greenly (one of Peach & Horne's 'assistants') but later in his career, possibly when preparing the first geological map of Anglesey (an absolute stunner), apocryphally on a suggestion from his wife. Jack Treagus wrote an article last year for Geoscientist on Greenly & recounts the story - it can be accessed at:
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/site/GSL/lang/en/page7350.html
Best Wishes to all & thanks for the stimulating thread,
Geoffrey Lloyd
Dr. Geoffrey E. Lloyd,
Reader in Microgeodynamics,
Institute of Geophysics & Tectonics,
School of Earth & Environment,
The University,
Leeds LS 2 9JT, UK
Direct Line: + 0113 343 5209
School: + 0113 343 5222
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