OCEANS AND LAKES SHOULD NOT BE BLUE, AND OTHER QUANDARIES OF COASTAL PLAIN MAPPING

Along coastal regions and areas with large lakes and streams, most 1:24k geological maps provide a clear indication for water. Light blue provides that calming evidence that water is present. And yet, these bottomless bodies of blue contain extremely important geological information at relatively high resolution, depending on the mode(s) of geological investigation and societal needs. For example, surficial mapping in coastal areas and lakes often involves 25- to 50-cm resolution when sand resources or offshore energy sites are investigated prior to installation. Obviously these needs are quite different, but millions of dollars are frequently on the line and the digital twins of the surface and subsurface in these instances are constantly revised.

This presentation focuses on making the blue useful and increasing the resolution of our maps to industry standards in coastal, lacustrine, and fluvial environments.