PROVIDING A GEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK FOR GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOCHRONOLOGICAL DATA IN DATABASES THROUGH CO-PUBLICATION IN DYNAMIC DIGITAL MAPS

Geologic maps can provide an essential framework for interpreting information obtained from geochemical and geochronological databases. Dynamic Digital Maps (DDMs) contribute one way to produce and use these maps in an easily accessible digital format that compliments such databases. High quality color maps, digital images, movies, analytical data and explanatory text, including field guides, can be integrated in a cross-platform web enabled format that is intuitive to use, easily and quickly searchable, and requires no additional proprietary software to operate. Maps and photos (saved as jpeg files) and movies are stored outside the program, which acts as an organizational framework and index to present these data. Analytical data are uploaded and stored as tab-delimited fields within the program, and can be saved as text files, for use out of the program, or inclusion in traditional databases. A DDM-Template into which one can insert their data, and an accompanying "Cookbook" on how to do this are available at http://ddm.geo.umass.edu, along with several DDMs that demonstrate this potential. Making a DDM from the Template requires the use of the English-language programming environment Revolution (www.runrev.com) which has a low learning curve. Once your data have been added to the DDM-Template, and stored in related specified directories, a single short step allows you create stand-alone programs for numerous Unix, and all Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The correct program for a given user's operating system can be downloaded from http protocol sites. The DDM program can then access its associated data directly from that site with no browser needed, or the entire package can be distributed and used from CD or DVD.