DIGITAL MAPPPING ASSISTANT: A PALM APPLICATION FOR DIGITAL COLLECTION OF GEOLOGIC DATA USING A PDA AND A GPS RECEIVER

Geologic mapping has long been conducted using USGS topographic maps and a field notebook. Once data is collected in the field, the data is generally transferred to a base map and structural data is entered into a PC for analysis using a stereonet or other application. To expedite data entry, Digital Mapping Assistant (DMA-Palm) has been coded for Palm OS. Lithologic, structural, and positional data is collected using the personal digital assistant and a GPS receiver. Field data that is collected in the PDA is stored in an MS Access® database for easy access, analysis, and preparation of GIS datasets for ArcInfo® and/or AutoCAD Map/Land®.

DMA, developed by the author, consists of three separate forms. DMA-Palm is the main form to which all data is referenced. This form is used to store lithologic, positional, and datum information. DMA-Palm consists of 21 fields which contain unique information that is collected at each mapping station. The other forms allow users to collect structural data in either quadrant or azimuth format. The relationship of the sub-forms to the master form allows users to collect structural data using the UserName and MapStation as the primary keys.

The DMAStructure sub-forms allow users to collect information for both planar and/or linear structural features and store this information for each mapping station. The structure sub-forms use common lookup lists for planar and linear features, which can be customized on the host PC and uploaded to the PDA during synchronization for immediate use. The DMAStructureQuad sub-form consists of 20 fields which contain unique quadrant-formatted structural information that is collected at each mapping station. The DMAStructureAzimuth sub-form consists of 18 fields which contain unique azimuth-formatted structural information that is collected at each mapping station.

The use of the structural sub-forms allows entry of as many structural measurements at an individual mapping station as desired. Whether measuring one or five fracture(s), one or two foliation(s), one or multiple lineation(s), the user maintains complete flexibility for the number of structural measurements required. A sketch field has been included which allows digital field sketches. These sketches are stored in the database as bitmaps that can be edited or exported for other applications.