Hi all,
Just got back from a couple of days in the field to catch up on this
discussion on digital mapping. Off-course we are very pro-technology
here in Durham having been actively promoting its use for the past few
years. It is interesting to hear for and against views on it but I think
the 'open' mind approach is best. We have tried to summarise our
experiences in a paper 'in press' in the geological society of London
and there is an uncorrected proof version on our web-pages - apologies
for shameless self promotion here!!
http://www.dur.ac.uk/react.res/RRG_web/KM_digitalmapping.pdf
The bottom line is that there are obvious advantages is using digital
methods for 3D visualisation, but only if incorporated in geospatially
referenced datasets - flythroughs are pretty but generally uninformative
as Rob Butler says. You need to get into your data sets in true 3D
ideally using a immersive type visualisation environment. Not cheap -
but lots of companies and increasingly universities have these
facilities available these days. There are also advantage for long term
data storage - GIS and other datafiles can stored long term and if
national/international agreements are in place then the format/hardware
issues of the past will not happen going forward. How many generations
of people have mapped the same outcrops in the past and how many of
these data are available for use by geoscientists? Obviously some of
those datasets may be too specialised or of poor quality but at least
having some data means that we don't have to start from scratch
everytime we start a new project, not to mention the hypotheses that
could be tested easily using old data before new studies commence.
Off-course there are lots of problems - but the technology is rapidly
evolving - you can now buy a PDA with an inbuilt GPS, load up arc-pad
and be mapping for a few hundred pounds. Finally, we do still teach all
our students to map using traditonal paper-based methods and have no
plans to do otherwise for the next few years at least.
Cheers, Ken
Musson, Roger MW wrote:
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Tectonics & structural geology discussion list
>>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tim Wynn
>>Sent: 27 July 2005 10:16
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: digital mapping
>>
>>
>>We could dispense with the judging and just arm the
>>participants with paintball guns instead.
>>
>>Tim
>>
>>
>>
>
>The traditionalists get the paintball guns and the digital folk get electric tag guns.
>
>Roger Musson
>
>
>*********************************************************************
>This e-mail message, and any files transmitted with it, are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee. However, the information contained in this e-mail may subsequently be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentially of this e-mail and your reply cannot be guaranteed. If this message was not intended for you, you have received it in error and any copying, distribution or other use of any part of it is strictly prohibited. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the British Geological Survey. The security of e-mail communication cannot be guaranteed and the BGS accepts no liability for claims arising as a result of the use of this medium to transmit messages from or to the BGS. http://www.bgs.ac.uk
>*********************************************************************
>
>
>
|