T63 Planetary Exploration and Education: How We Learn about Our Solar System and Beyond

Sunday, 15 October 2023
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
323

CULTIVATING DIGITAL RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR PLANETARY GEOLOGIC MAPPERS: A PGM-TREKS COLLABORATION

Paper number: T63-14
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 5:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Authors

Abstract

The USGS-NASA Planetary Geologic Mapping (PGM) Program and NASA-JPL Solar System Treks have begun collaborative efforts to provide USGS planetary maps on the Treks platform. Establishment of this partnership marks the second phase of PGM interactive map development, which has been ongoing since 2020. The Solar System Treks platform is a robust web-based data visualization and analysis tool, which has been developed for use with multiple planetary bodies and is widely used by the planetary science community, including mission planners, researchers, and the public at large. Enabling the visualization and manipulation of USGS planetary maps within the Treks platform will make it easier for the planetary science community to incorporate planetary map products in their work and supports NASA’s open science goals through the use of a widely accessible data platform.

Work has begun to ingest USGS maps into the Treks platform. We expect initial capabilities that will allow users to switch easily between equatorial and polar projections, as well as view a full 3D globe. Users will also be able to simultaneously view and overlay multiple maps, enabling rapid comparisons. Links to original GIS datasets, PDFs, and the USGS Publications Warehouse will be included in each layer’s information and may be easily accessed if needed. Additional analysis capabilities will allow selection of map components (for example, all or a subset of the geologic unit polygons) for detailed information. We also anticipate the development of additional spatial analysis tools such as zonal statistics (for example, calculating the average slope or elevation within a selection of geologic units) and heat map generation.

Testing is underway using the Unified Global Geologic Map of the Moon. Once testing is complete, we will make all interactive maps that are currently available on the PGM website available on the Treks platform. Efforts will then continue, making all published USGS planetary maps available as interactive maps through the Treks platform.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 55, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394709

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