Waldemar Gogolek
 

Method Revolution: Using GIS for Geological Maps Production in Poland


Paper describe the use of new method and GIS software (ArcInfo and ArcView) for geological map production in Poland, The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland mainly.
 



 
Detailed Geological Map of Poland in the scale 1:50,000 is the basic geological map. This is a serial map, which consists of 1025 sheets and covers almost all Poland without Sudety Mountains. Every sheet includes: a. surface geological map with cross section, stratigraphic profiles and legend   (example of published map Janow Lubelski, figure from Proceedings 1996 Esri European User Conference, London)  , b. explanation book with geomorphological sketch, uncovered sketch (without Quaternary sediments), additional cross sections etc. Production of that map started in 1953.

Brave decision of totally change of method production of that map was taken in 1994. We have possessed working database, many digitized sheets, 20 digitally edited for printing sheets of that map and new map production manual  after two years of hard work. It was in 1996. The technology, method and state of production of Detailed Geological Map of Poland was describe and presented during European User Conference in London (see references).

Over 200 sheets of Detailed Geological Map of Poland was digitized and almost 100 was verified and loaded to data base up to now, suitably about 20% and 10% area of Poland. 36 sheets of that map have been digitally edited and printed to the end of 1997.
 
 
Figure 1. State of digital production of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland, status as at 15 March 1998. 1 - map out of print, computer aided edition and preparation for printing; 2 - map verified and loaded to database; 3 - map digitizing completed; 4 - The 1:25,000 Detailed Geological Map of Sudety Mts., edition completed.

ArcInfo 7.x (ArcScan, GRID, ArcEdit, ArcPlot) and our own application of ArcInfo are used for creation of database and preparation of sheets of Detailed Geological Map of Poland for printing. The specialized software, a high skills of computer (ArcInfo) operators and technical (computer) editors are necessary to make this actions. Digital method covers only part of cartographic production process today. The simple sketch shows the method of production of our map.


Figure 2. Flowchart of production process of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland, today.
 
We would like to apply computer method for earlier steps of map production. First attempts of applying computer methods for more steps have been taken up last year.  First one was attempt to draw geological map during field mapping and second one was attempt to draw, analyze and prepare the  "digital manuscripts" for final author's study before content - related edition. ArcView 3, PC version, has been used for that.

The attempt to draw geological map during field mapping was not successful. The hardware, which was used was an notebook. I have tried edit polygons, lines etc. against topographic map background. It was to long-lasting and no efficient process. New attempt will be take up this year, but I will use another software additionally. I will use support of GIS specialist from Esri Poland Company too.

The attempt to draw, analyze and prepare the "digital manuscripts" for final author's study finished successfully. I prepare my authors sheet Obrzycko of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland in that way. Geological map and cross-section, synthetic stratigraphic profiles have been digitized against scanned manuscripts. ArcInfo was used for that. The analysis, corrections and edition, among other things explanation for the map, have been executed in ArcView 3.1 (examples there are below).

Figure 3. View of the fragment of the sheet Obrzycko of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland.
 
Figure 4. Layout of synthetic stratigraphic profile "Warta Valley Region" for the sheet Obrzycko of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland.
 
Figure 5. Layout fragment of explanation of the sheet Obrzycko of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland.
 
The Obrzycko sheet of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland will be example of  take advantage of own database (for map sheet) for author's study. Individual database can be done  for every map by team of Subdivision of Computer - Aided Production of The Detailed Geological Map of Poland in Polish Geological Institute. The time of introduce this method for author's study to practice depends on available of hardware and relatively cheap software. That map is produce by more than 100 authors from Polish Geological Institute, Geological Companies and many high schools. We plan to change our method of map produce in a close future according to flowchart presented below.
 
Figure 6. Flowchart production process of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland, in the future.

The first edition of The 1:200,000 Geological Map of Poland  was finished last year. Polish Geological Institute plan to start the second edition of that map, but in digital form. Database of The 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland and the ArcInfo application of Detailed Geological Map of Poland will be a basis of the new edition of geological map in the scale 1:200,000. Digital geological data in the scale 1:25,000 will be generalized and edited in the scale 1:200,000.
 
Two new editions of the thematic geological map have been started last year. There are: The 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map  of Poland and The 1:50,000 Geopotential Map of Poland. That both maps are produce and edited with computer - aided method entirely.

The time (last three years) and scale (changes concern all serial geological maps) of a change of methods of geological map production in Poland are so fast that they can be called revolution in geological cartography.


References

Jurkun A., Zielke J., 1995: Detailed Geological Map of Poland 1:50,000, Proceedings 10th ArcInfo European User Conference, Prague.

Gogolek W., Bielecki T., Jurkun A., Kocyla J., Zielke J., 1996: Proceedings 1996 Esri European User Conference, London.  http://www.Esri.com/base/common/userconf/europroc96/PAPERS/PN20/PN20F.HTM

Gogolek W.,  Bielecki T., 1997:  Computer aided edition of the 1:50,000 Detailed Geological Map of Poland, Proceedings 18th ICA/ACI International Cartographic Conference, Stockholm.


Waldemar Gogolek
Head of Subdivision of Computer - Aided Production of Detailed Geological Map of Poland
Department of Quaternary Geology
Polish Geological Institute:  http://www.pgi.waw.pl/
Rakowiecka 4
00-975 Warszawa
POLAND
Tel.: (48-22) 495351 ext. 367
Fax: (48-22) 495342
E-mail: wgog@pgi.waw.pl