AFTER THE MAPPING, THEN WHAT? UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY’S EFFORTS AT DISSEMINATION OF GEOLOGIC MAP INFORMATION

Geologic maps are one of the most fundamental and important databases for the geological sciences, but they are little understood and thus little used by the lay public. The burden of wider dissemination beyond typical geologic map publications falls on individual geologic mappers and their respective geologic surveys. Although not funded under the popular and successful USGS STATEMAP program, such efforts at pushing geologic map information out to the public are a critical component of any geological survey. The Utah Geological Survey employs a variety of methods to disseminate technical geologic map data, and to translate that data into forms more accessible to land managers, industry, consultants, and the general public. Our interactive geologic map viewer, geologic hazard map sets, virtual geologic field trips, derivative technical and general interest publications, geologic road signs and park brochures, public field reviews of new geologic mapping, contributions to the National Geologic Map Database, and more demonstrate that publication of geologic maps is only the first step in dissemination of new geologic map data.