DEVELOPMENT OF A GIS FOR THE MT. ROGERS AREA (VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA) FIELD GUIDES AS A MODEL FOR A SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN DIGITAL DIRECTORY OF FIELD TRIP LOCATION DECRIPTIONS

Field experience for geology students has become increasingly important as the profession becomes more specialized and focuses more on advanced technologies. To facilitate class field trips in the Southern Appalachians, a GIS system is being developed to allow an instructor to easily locate field trip stops from multiple guide books in a given area. The Mount Rogers area in Virginia and North Carolina has been developed as the model for this project. A database lists the major features that can be observed and classifies the stops in terms of suitability for relatively large general education, advanced undergraduate, or graduate classes and for accessibility. GPS coordinates and locations using the public land survey system are given. References are provided so instructors can consult original guidebooks for details. Commercial digital topographic maps serve as the base with overlays for generalized geologic maps, transportation, and state and county boundaries. Aerial infrared images and digital orthophotoquadrangle maps are used for selected areas. The goal is not to replace original guidebooks but to increase their use and to make it easier for instructors to locate information that will enhance field experiences for geology students. A secondary goal is to use digital imagery in the field to emphasize that both traditional field studies and modern technologies are required for the profession of geology.