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GEOLOGIJA 46/2, 339–342, Ljubljana 2003

A new Slovenian digital cartographic standard for geologic map


symbolization
Milo{ BAVEC & Marko KOMAC
Geolo{ki zavod Slovenije, Dimi~eva 14, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
E-mail:milos.bavec(geo-zs.si,
marko.komac(geo-zs.si

Key words: digital geologic standards, geology

Abstract
Almost four decades have passed since the last “new” graphic standard has been issued
by the former Federal Geological Survey of Yugoslavia (1964). Although it was prepared
for the project of Basic Geologic Map at the scale of 1:100.000, its use surpassed the primal
purpose, and it became broadly used in various graphic representations of geologic infor-
mation. Through years, however, the standard outdated and have therefore been sporadi-
cally upgraded. Constant changes gradually made it unsystematic and inconsistent. An
effort was made a couple of years ago to revise it again, and to convert it into digital form
but the result provided another conclusive evidence that a total revision of the original
is needed. A new digital cartographic standard for geologic map symbolisation is therefore
being prepared in Slovenia. The project is run by a team formed at the Geological Survey
of Slovenia in close co-operation with contributors from other geologic institutions in
Slovenia. The aim of the project is to prepare a consistent and comprehensive set of graphic
symbols and rules of representation that would cover the needs of the geologic maps
production in scales between 1:10.000 and 1:100.000. The focus of standard’s applicability
is, however, the new Geologic Map of Slovenia in scale 1:50.000.

Initial requirements • employability in various application en-


vironments,
Requirements that the new Standard • user-friendliness (valid for the maker
needs to meet are: as well as for the reader of the product)
• uniform graphic appearance of geologic • applicable in solving local geologic
maps, problems yet comparable with global stan-
• employability in maps of scales between dards.
1:10.000 to 1:100.000 with employability fo-
cused to the new Geologic Map of Slovenia
in scale of 1:50.000, Methodology
• employability in litho/chronostrati-
graphic maps as well as in formation maps, A work group of 17 experts has been
• employability in geologic cross-sections formed to revise existing standards and to
and stratigraphic/lithologic columns of ad- prepare proposals by topics. The topics were
equate scales, distributed among group members accord-
• strict systematics, ing to their professional specialities. Each of
340 Milo{ Bavec & Marko Komac

the group members prepared a Standard apply on a geologic map with an exception
proposal on a selected topic given only the of formation, and chronostratigraphic nota-
rough outlines of the expected joint product. tions. The complex is divided into following
The proposals were then co-ordinated and topics: 1) sediments, sedimentary rocks and
revised by the whole work group. After all sedimentary environments, 2) volcanic and
the suggestions and corrections were taken volcanoclastic rocks, 3) magmatic rocks, 4)
into account, the manuscript proposals were metamorphic rocks, 5) minerals, 6) tectonics
sent to the Geologic Information Centre of and structural geology, 7) palaeontology, 8)
the Geological Survey of Slovenia for geomorphology, 9) hydrogeology, 10) engi-
digitalisation (transfer into the application neering geology, 11) mineral resources, 12)
environment). After the digitalisation is fin- special symbols, 13) natural heritage.
ished, the draft version will be revised again The guiding line through the process of
by the work group and published on the preparation was the strict systematics.
Internet for public revision. After the three- Namely, there are several examples of exist-
month revision period, the work group will ing Standards that have failed in solving the
consider suggestions, make necessary cor- problem of systematics adequately. By com-
rections and finally publish the Standard on paring them, it became evident that there
the home page of the Geological Survey of are three main reasons for a failure: 1) cer-
Slovenia. The product will stay open for fur- tain geological phenomena are described by
ther suggestions through a digital form pub- two or more symbols, 2) similar or identical
lished aside. symbols are applied to describe different
Several Standards exist on the “market”, geological phenomena, 3) basic and ex-
so it has been clear from the very beginning panded symbol sets are put together regard-
that there was no need for introducing brand less of any hierarchy.
new systematics or to apply a completely The basic, and the expanded symbol sets
different approach. The following Standards are strictly divided in the new Standard.
were used as the basis for the new product: Introducing the basic (obligatory) symbol
ISO (1974–1989), JUS (2001), USGS-FGDC set along with the expanded set means that
(2002), OGK 1 (Savezni geolo{ki zavod SFRJ, the mapping geologist will be able to use
1964), the Standard proposal for OGK 2 the Standard regardless of his field of spe-
(Savezni geolo{ki Zavod SFRJ, 1985) and cialisation. Vice-versa, the specialist should
the manuscript proposal for the Slovenian find all the symbols needed to conduct any
OGK 2 Standard (P r e m r u & J e v { e n a k , specialised work with the scale of the map/
1996). However, a simple compilation of ex- profile/column taken as a limitation, of
isting standards proved to be impossible for course.
several reasons. Some of existing standards All symbols are presented in standardised
are inconsistent by their systematics, some tables and described by a consecutive num-
are not compatible with the geology of ber, the name, picture, alphanumeric sym-
Slovenia, some are too extensive, and the bol where applicable and a short comment
others are too simple. Preparation of the new describing the rules of its use.
proposal therefore required plenty of autho- The timescale is the second topical com-
rial work, in some cases starting completely plex. The main idea that followed the prepa-
from scratch. ration of the timescale was to make a local
chronostratigraphic division in accordance
with global chronostratigraphic/geochrono-
The structure of the standard logic divisions. There is a “near-perfect” glo-
bal time scale that is being constantly up-
The Standard consists of three major topi- dated by the International Commission on
cal complexes: 1) graphic and alphanumeric Stratigraphy (ICS) of the International
symbols, 2) geologic timescale and 3) rules Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). How-
of representation. ever, the specifics of Slovenian geology make
Graphic and alphanumeric symbols part the global timescales non-applicable in cer-
is the major topical complex of the Stan- tain cases. It was concluded that, for various
dard. It comprises all graphic symbols, reasons, local particularities have to be con-
hatches and alphanumeric symbols that may sidered for the Carboniferous, the Lower
A new Slovenian digital cartographic standard for geologic map symbolization 341

Triassic and the Paleogene – Neogene geo- cedure is used to minimise the analogue-to-
chrons. The main frame, however, stayed digital transformation errors. The operator
completely comparable with the (semi)offi- (digitiser) uses simple, user-friendly menus
cial ICS’s timescale. The divisions go down in which symbols from different topics are
to the stage or to the substage where reason- listed and shown. With the described pro-
able. cedure, the basic attributes of a specific
Beside the main timescale, the new Stan- symbol are entered and can be further used
dard will provide links to three additional for the linkage with the symbol’s properties
(informative) scales that are being broadly and more detailed description in GIS envi-
used for comparison with official chrono- ronment. The already adopted protocol,
stratigraphic units. These are: the geomag- with necessary updates taken into account,
netic polarity, δ18O and the Alpine Pleis- will also be used for digitalisation of geo-
tocene morphostratigraphy. logic maps compiled on the basis of the new
In case of the Tertiary and the Quater- Standard.
nary we took the conservative approach. The new Standard is supposed to sup-
Namely, the ICS ceased to use those two as port production of maps in various scales
formal chronostratigraphic units, but we (from 10.000 to 100.000), hence graphic
found them both too well-nested in minds of symbols have to be adjusted to the specific
geologists so the decision was made to use scale and can not be simply scaled. Each
them. In addition, the cancellation of Ter- symbol has to be defined and designed for
tiary and Quaternary has not been for- each specific common scale used. Also
malised yet. colour charts will have to be defined for
Rules of representation define the nota- each of the symbols. For hatches the RGB
tion rules for chronostratigraphic, and for- and CMYK values need to be defined due to
mational geologic units. The aim of the stan- different screen and printer/plotter prop-
dard is to be applicable for all types of erties. For graphic symbols (objects and
general geologic maps so the rules do not lines) 8-bit colour palette is advisable, to
exclude any type of such maps. avoid unnecessary dithering on devices that
can only display 256 colours (B r o w n &
F e r i n g a , 1999).
Transformation into the digital form & Standard layouts of maps, which will
GIS comprise the map itself, the title, the cross-
sections, the columns, the legend(s), the de-
To transform the analogue data into the sign of the scale bar, the north arrow, ap-
digital form and further into the GIS envi- pendices, and text, will also be defined.
ronment in a effective manner, proper stan- With all described bearing in mind, there
dards are needed. These standards have to are several problems that arise during the
be strict, practically perfect and upgradable process:
enough, so that absolutely no divergence • non-systematic (chaotic) symbols (hat-
from the rules is allowed. At this junction of ches),
needs, the concept and the GIS, the consis- • scaling of symbols,
tency and applicability of standards work • colour vs. black/white print,
hand in hand. • variable hatch orientation within a
Graphic symbols, hatches and alphanu- single geologic unit (bedding…),
meric symbols are transformed into the • ironically, the inter-PC compatibility
digital form in proper scales, using CAD can sometimes pose big problems due to spe-
tools. After the shape, colour and dimen- cifics of CE fonts, commonly used for Slo-
sions are confirmed by the author and the venian.
review group, the symbols will be intro- During the development of the new Stan-
duced into the standardised procedure of dard, all problems stated above should be
the map digitalisation. For the purpose of considered. Than again, geologists should
the onscreen digitalisation of the Basic Geo- participate in the process of the GIS soft-
logic Map at the scale of 1:100.000, the CAD ware development more actively, since our
application “Geolog” (i.e. Geologist) was needs sometimes differ from the needs of
developed (Fig. 1). This standardised pro- other spatial related sciences.
342 Milo{ Bavec & Marko Komac

Figure 1. CAD application


“Geolog” (Geologist)

Discussion References

Creation of a new Standard consists, in B r o w n , A. & F e r i n g a , W. 1999: A colour


handbook for GIS users and cartographers. – ITC,
its basics, mostly of compilation of existing Enschede.
standards. However, considering the specif- D i m i t r i j e v i } , M. 1978: Geolo{ko kartiranje.
ics of regional geology and any kind of spe- – Izdava~ko-informativni centar studenata, 487
cial requirements, a pure compilation is pp., Beograd.
Geologic Data Subcomittee, Federal Geo-
practically impossible, and the authorial graphic Data Comittee (FGDC), 1997: Proposed
approach is needed. Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map
Two issues arose along the process of pre- Symbolization. – United States Geological Sur-
vey. (http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/fgdc_gds/home.html,
paration that we have not solved in-full yet. 2003)
The first is the problem of sytematics and International Comission on Stratigraphy (ICS),
division of symbols according to hierarchi- 2002: Overview of Global Boundary Stratotype
Sections and Points, strat info, strat guides and
cal criteria. The second problem, which is color codes. – International Union of Geological
in-part specific for Slovenia, is the problem Sciences. (http://www.micropress.org/stratigra-
of translations. Beside grammatical issues phy/, 2003)
International Organization for Standardiza-
that demonstrated while translating names tion, 1974–1989: Graphical symbols for use on
of chronostratigraphic units, we are still dis- detailed maps, plans and geological cross-sections
cussing the decision on whether to derive – Parts 1–6. – International standard ISO 710/1–
6.
alphanumeric symbols (two- to three letter) J o h n s o n , B. R., B r o d a r i c , B. & R a i n e s ,
from the original (Greek, English....), from G. L. 1997: Draft geologic maps data model: ver-
English, or from Slovene. sion 4.2. – AASG/USGS Geologic Map Data Model
Prior to creating data presentation stan- Committee.
(http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ngmdbproject/stan-
dards for the whole country, three levels of dards/datamodel/model42.pdf, 2003)
consistency have to be addressed: consis- Komisija za geolo{ke oznake i simbole, 2001:
tency of the original survey (standardised Jugoslovenski standard (JUS) za gelo{ke oznake
i simbole. – Savezni zavod za standardizaciju,
data collection), consistency of descriptive Beograd.
information (standardised data model) and P r e m r u , U. & J e v { e n a k , B. 1996: Dimenzije
consistency of coding (Johnson et al., 1997). standardnih znakov za geolo{ko karto Republike
Slovenije v merilu 1:50.000, 1. del, revizija 0 –
The former two can be controlled and “en- rokopisno poro~ilo. – 68 pp., Geolo{ki zavod Slo-
forced” up to a certain degree, while the venije.
first one depends purely on the knowledge Savezni geolo{ki zavod, 1964: Uputstvo za iz-
radu osnovne geolo{ka karte SFRJ. 2. izdanje. –
and consistency of the field geologist. Graðevinska knjiga, 100 pp, Beograd.

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