NCGMP09 -- DRAFT STANDARD FORMAT FOR DIGITAL PUBLICATION OF GEOLOGIC MAPS

“NCGMP09” (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/NCGMP09/) is the proposed standard format for geologic map publications funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. It specifies a database design to encode content analogous to that contained in a traditional geologic map published by the USGS and state geological surveys. It stipulates an ESRI database format in order to adhere to USGS policy and because this is the GIS most commonly used in the USGS, in the state geological surveys, and in the larger community. Migration to a non-proprietary format, such as the GML-based GeoSciML, is a worthy goal, and it was designed with this in mind.

Further, this design is intended to provide a stepping-stone toward development of multi-map databases, in particular the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB). The NGMDB Project assists with coordination of database design work between the USGS and state geological surveys, and is mandated to build a national archive of standardized geologic map information. The database design will significantly promote that goal. Benefits of a standard design include better communication with map users, easier development of tools for creating and analyzing geologic maps, lower training costs, and easier map compilation. We welcome your comments and invite you to get involved.