Generalizing geological maps with the GeoScaler software: The case study approach

  • Authors:
  • Alex Smirnoff;Gabriel Huot-Vézina;Serge J. Paradis;Ruth Boivin

  • Affiliations:
  • Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, 490, de la Couronne, Québec, Canada G1K 9A9;Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, 490, de la Couronne, Québec, Canada G1K 9A9;Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, 490, de la Couronne, Québec, Canada G1K 9A9;Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, 490, de la Couronne, Québec, Canada G1K 9A9

  • Venue:
  • Computers & Geosciences
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

Map generalization is rapidly becoming an important task in surficial and bedrock geology as broader regional and cross-boundary compilations are made from maps originally describing more specific areas. However, the entire process is still not defined in sufficient detail and relatively few automated tools are available. Moreover, the existing tools are primarily designed for generalization of topographic maps and do not address the needs specific to geology. Here we present two case studies describing our approach to the generalization of surficial and bedrock geology maps, respectively. To accomplish the task, we employed the GeoScaler software developed at the Laboratoire de cartographie numerique et de photogrammetrie (LCNP) of the Quebec division of the Geological Survey of Canada (Version 2009). The software is free over the Internet but requires an ArcGIS (ArcInfo) license. Four surficial geology maps at 1:250,000 scale were produced from 14 maps scaled at 1:100,000, while a single compilation of six bedrock maps was generalized from 1:125,000 to 1:500,000 scale. We describe the general considerations required to approach any generalization exercise, applied software, objectives, input data, major generalization steps, and the final results. All generalized maps were favorably evaluated by experts in geological mapping and the surficial maps have been published.