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Gems (Geologic Map Schema)—A Standard Format for the Digital Publication of Geologic Maps

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Gems (Geologic Map Schema)—A Standard Format for the Digital Publication of Geologic Maps GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)—A Standard Format for the Digital Publication of Geologic Maps Chapter 10 of Section B, U.S. Geological Survey Standards, of Book 11, Collection and Delineation of Spatial Data Techniques and Methods 11–B10 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Geologic map of the western United States and surrounding areas, extracted from the “Geologic map of North America” (Reed and others, 2005; database from Garrity and Soller, 2009). Image downloaded from the National Geologic Map Database (https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_86688.htm). GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)—A Standard Format for the Digital Publication of Geologic Maps By the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program Chapter 10 of Section B, U.S. Geological Survey Standards, of Book 11, Collection and Delineation of Spatial Data Techniques and Methods 11–B10 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DAVID BERNHARDT, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2020 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747). For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020, GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)—A standard format for the digital publication of geologic maps: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B10, 74 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm11B10. ISSN 2328-7055 (online) iii Acknowledgments The GeMS database design is an outcome of years of research and collaboration by many scientists and GIS specialists, under the auspices of numerous projects and initiatives. The preparers of this document, Ralph A. Haugerud and David R. Soller (both USGS), especially thank Peter Lyttle (former Program Coordinator, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program) for his recommendation in 2008 that we undertake this work. We also thank our many colleagues who have given thoughtful comments and critiques of this design. Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Objective.................................................................................................................................................2 Lessons Learned in the Last Three Decades ...................................................................................2 Design Considerations ..................................................................................................................................3 Content of a Geologic Map ..........................................................................................................................3 Extensions to Traditional Geologic Map Content ............................................................................5 Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................................5 Classification of Geologic Materials ........................................................................................5 Feature-Level Metadata .............................................................................................................6 Data Source (Provenance) ................................................................................................6 Locational Confidence (Spatial Accuracy) .....................................................................7 Scientific Confidence, Identity Confidence, and Existence Confidence ...................8 Orientation Confidence ......................................................................................................8 Working with Multiple Feature Attributes ...............................................................................8 Naming Database Elements ................................................................................................................9 Transparent Identifiers .........................................................................................................................9 File Formats ............................................................................................................................................9 Required, As-Needed, and Optional Elements of a Digital Geologic Map Publication ....................10 The Database Design ..................................................................................................................................10 General Considerations .....................................................................................................................10 This Design Uses a Relational Database ...............................................................................10 Field Hygiene ..............................................................................................................................10 Type, MapUnit, Label, and Symbol Fields ..............................................................................12 Polygons, Lines, and Topology—What Goes Where? .........................................................16 Directional Lines ........................................................................................................................18 Required Elements ..............................................................................................................................18 GeologicMap (Feature Dataset) ..............................................................................................18 MapUnitPolys (Polygon Feature Class) .........................................................................18 Topology Rules .........................................................................................................18 ContactsAndFaults (Line Feature Class) .......................................................................18 Topology Rules .........................................................................................................19 DescriptionOfMapUnits (Nonspatial Table) ...........................................................................20 Notes on the Content of the Description Field .............................................................21 iv Populating the DescriptionOfMapUnits Table ..............................................................24 Order and Rank of Map Units .........................................................................................24 DataSources (Nonspatial Table) .............................................................................................24 GeoMaterialDict (Nonspatial Table) .......................................................................................24 Glossary (Nonspatial Table) .....................................................................................................24 As-Needed Elements..........................................................................................................................26 Guidelines for Naming and Designing Additional Feature Classes ...................................26 Structure of Point Data .............................................................................................................27 Point Feature Classes in General ...................................................................................27 Examples of As-Needed Point Feature Classes ...................................................................27 OrientationPoints (Point Feature Class) ........................................................................27 GeochronPoints (Point Feature Class) ..........................................................................28 Stations (Point Feature Class) ........................................................................................28 MapUnitPoints (Point Feature Class) ............................................................................32 Examples of Other As-Needed Feature Classes ..................................................................32 GeologicLines (Line Feature Class) ...............................................................................32 Topology Rules .........................................................................................................32 MapUnitLines (Line Feature Class) ................................................................................32 Topology Rules .........................................................................................................32 CartographicLines (Line Feature Class) ........................................................................32 IsoValueLines (Line Feature Class) ................................................................................32 Overlay Polygons (the MapUnitOverlayPolys and OverlayPolys Polygon Feature Classes) .................................................................................................................34
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