Online Geological /Geophysical /Topological Map Resources

Paul bristolia at yahoo.com
Thu Oct 4 09:35:31 EDT 2007

Mr EMan wrote:

"Having received some request for more online map
information, here are some tips for locating free on
line maps.(Primarily USA)."

There are some web pages, which provide links for where
free GIS data, including scans of topographic and other
maps, called "DRGs" for various states. They include:

1. "Maps and GIS Resources: United States, by State",
compiled by the University of Oregon Libraries.

http://libweb.uoregon.edu/map/map_section/map_Statedatasets.html

2. Libre Map Project - The purpose of the Libre Map
Project is to aggregate and make digital maps and
related GIS data available for Free. The URLs are:

http://libremap.org/ and http://libremap.org/data/

3. Websites for Digital GIS Data - Stanford University

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/gis/web.html

URLs for International GIS Data:

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/gis/bookmark.htm

4. FINDING UNITED STATES DEMs - “Digital Elevation
Models for the United States can be downloaded at
no cost from several locations on the Internet.”

http://www.visualizationsoftware.com/3dem/finddems.html

5. Guide to Mostly On-Line and Mostly Free U.S. Geospatial
and Attribute Data - University of Arkansas Compilation.

http://libinfo.uark.edu/gis/us.asp

One way of finding digital map data is to search using your
favorite search engine and a combination of the key words
"GIS", "DRG", and the name of the state, for which a person
is looking for data. Most states now have GIS archives,
which contain DRGs of topographic maps and other digital
data.

In terms of geologic maps, a person can go to the
National Geologic Map Database at:

http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ngmdb/ngm_quicksearch.html

It contains DRGs and other digital copies of various
geologic maps for parts of the United States.

Digital geologic maps accompany the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) publications, which can be
downloaded free from the USGS Publications Warehouse at;

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/index.jsp?view=adv

and http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/index.jsp

For example, a geological map of a geologic dome, which
was initially mistaken for an impact crater, can be found in
“The geology and mechanics of formation of the Fort Rock
Dome, Yavapai County, Arizona, Professional Paper
no. 1266, at:

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/pp/pp1266

Yours,

Paul H.

Downloadable (PDF) World Map of Impact Craters, Volcanoes, and Tectonics

Paul bristolia at yahoo.com
Wed Sep 19 08:48:17 EDT 2007

The United States Geological Survey's world map of
volcanoes, earthquakes, impact craters, and plate
tectonics is available online as PDF files. It is:

This Dynamic Planet World Map of Volcanoes, Earthquakes,
Impact Craters, and Plate Tectonics, Third Edition, 2006,
By Tom Simkin, Robert I. Tilling, Peter R. Vogt, Stephen
H. Kirby, Paul Kimberly, and David B. Stewart, United
States Geological Survey Geologic Investigations Map
no. I-2800

http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/2800/

"This map shows the Earth's physiographic features, the
current movements of its major tectonic plates, and the
locations of its volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters.
Over 1,500 volcanoes active during the past 10,000 years
are plotted on the map in four age categories. The locations
( epicenters) of over 24,000 earthquakes, largely from 1960
through 1990, are plotted in three magnitude categories and
in two depth ranges. This PDF file includes 6 pages of
explanatory and background information, a legend for the
map in landscape mode, schematic cross section, and the
map itself, which is 44 inches wide."

They have both screen and print versions of the PDF files.

Yours,

Paul H.

Many United States Geological Survey Publications Now Online

Paul bristolia at yahoo.com
Fri Mar 9 10:12:19 EST 2007

Gary wrote:

“DJVU files... does this stand for Deja Vu files? I
have some of them that pop up once in a while :)”

Yes. I would much prefer if the USGS had used PDF
files instead. I have no idea why they choose the
Deja Vu format over the PDF format.

The plugins for Deja Vu files can be found at

http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_download.php?detail=doc_djvu_plugin&platform=win

or

http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_download.php?detail=doc_djvu_plugin&platform=macx

For some reason my Mac PowerPC G5 does not
print Deja Vu files. Although it acts like it is
printing the files, nothing ever comes out of the
Tektronix Phaser 7300 printer.

Yours,

Paul

Many United States Geological Survey Publications Now Online

Paul bristolia at yahoo.com
Thu Mar 8 22:32:48 EST 2007

Many Unites States Geological Survey Publications are
now online as DJVU files. Advanced Search for these
publications is at:

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/index.jsp

For example, meteorite related USGS publications, which
can be viewed and downloaded are:

1. Cosmochemistry; Part 1, Meteorites, Professional Paper
440-B-1, by B. Mason at:

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/pp/pp440B1

and 2. The disintegration of the Wolf Creek meteorite
and the formation of pecoraite, the nickel analog of
clinochrysotile, Professional Paper 384-C, by Faust,
George T.; Fahey, J. J.; Mason, B. H.; and Dwornik, E. J.

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/pp/pp384C

Yours,

Paul H.