3 Advances in Geologic Mapping, Databases, and Dissemination: Establishing fundamental resources for the earth science community
This session will highlight new geologic maps, innovations in mapping techniques, and related advances in data management, web accessibility, and applications. We welcome submissions with relevance to hazard assessments, natural resource evaluations, and water-land management.
Monday, 9 March 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
RCC, 105
Improving a collection of digital 1:24k-scale geologic maps from Tennessee
Paper number: 3-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:20 AM – 10:40 AM
Authors
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Coral HoweLower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Leetown, WV
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Katherine KnierimLower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Little Rock, AR
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David LaddLower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Nashville, TN
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Champagne Cunninghamformer Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Nashville, TN
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Delton SamuelGeology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Moffett Field, CA
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Jessica VillersLower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, New Orleans, LA
Abstract
Geologic maps provide information to local stakeholders, state and federal cooperators, and regional modeling efforts that quantify water and mineral resources. Between 1990 and 1994, 368 of the 412 available 1:24,000-scale geologic quadrangle maps for Tennessee were converted to Esri Arc/Info GIS coverages. Due to technological constraints at the time, georeferencing and metadata attribution compatible with modern standards were limited, inhibiting public distribution of the collection. Since 2022, USGS scientists with the help of Tennessee Geological Survey staff have converted, corrected, and attributed 312 of the previously digitized coverages. A combination of manual corrections and custom ArcPy Python scripted tools in ArcGIS Pro were used to produce Geologic Map Schema (GeMS)-compliant databases. The resulting map packages will be published to the USGS National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB). Through optimized workflows and custom scripted tools, this project improves the accuracy and usability of Tennessee’s geologic map collection for research and resource management.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411557
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