PRESENTING GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL ORIENTATION DATA ON INTERACTIVE MAPS

Using Macromedia Actionscript™ scripting language, we have developed graphical computer applications that access external XML documents and allow XML-formatted geological orientation data to be superimposed on web-based geological maps. The data may consist of stereographic projections of great circles or poles representing structural features, or they may be geophysical focal mechanism solutions (“beachballs”) linked to earthquake epicenters, for example. The underlying maps may be in simple GIF or JPEG format, or they may be interactive maps that pan, rotate, and zoom in response to user actions. The latter were developed using Zoomify™ software and also by modifying Google Maps™ and MSN Maps™. To facilitate use by non-experts, the applications were developed as Macromedia Flash SWF format files that can easily be incorporated into standard web pages using a HTML editor such as Dreamweaver™. The SWF files constantly monitor specified external XML documented located anywhere on the Internet, and are capable of responding to new data in real time. We anticipate that our approach will help users to visualize time-dependent data patterns and to monitor geophysical hazards.