%0 Conference Proceedings %B Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America %D 2003 %T Converting paper geologic maps to digital products; the search for an effective method %A Stephen B Mabee %A Newton, R. %A Stepanov, A. %A Ene, D. %A Ivanov, D. %K #StaffPubs %K cartography %K data bases %K data processing %K digital cartography %K digital data %K geographic information systems %K geomorphology %K Geomorphology 23 %K government agencies %K information systems %K mapping %K massachusetts %K National Geologic Map Database %K NGMDB %K survey organizations %K United States %X MassGIS and the Office of the Massachusetts State Geologist are working collaboratively with the USGS to vectorize 85, published 7.5-minute surficial geologic maps in order to prepare a statewide coverage of the till-glacial stratified drift boundary. Conversion of old geologic maps from paper copies to new digital products is a complex task requiring an efficient method that minimizes errors and limits the need for heads-up digitizing. The main issue in the conversion is the accurate separation of line work (geologic contacts) on the map from the halftone colors in the polygon fills and achieving this without creating an extensive editing effort in the GIS environment. For this project, we elected to process the scanned and rectified images of the surficial geologic maps in Photoshop and adjust the resulting line work in ArcScan before vectorizing the polygons. Photoshop is an extremely sophisticated, commercial raster image editing software with a very user-friendly interface. Using tools such as the "Magic Wand" (selection of similar pixels with variable threshold control), "Select Color Range" (find all instances of similar colors), "Grow and Contract Selection", "Stroke Selection", and Photoshop "Layers", we are able to create a set of very accurate, noise free boundary lines, before the vectorization process occurs. This methodology is, in effect, "on the fly" editing of the boundary lines, eliminating the large number of errors and artifacts that "automated" vectorizing processes inevitably generate (and which must be tediously edited and/or removed later with vector editing software). Line tracings produced in Photoshop are exported to ArcScan where, using the original raster image as a background, a preview of the proposed vector is adjusted, if needed, using simple editing tools in ArcScan. Once an optimal match is achieved visually, the vectors are generated. The advantage of this approach is that the bulk of the line editing occurs early in the process, prior to vectorization, and can be achieved by moderately trained personnel using "off the shelf" commercial software. This provides greater control of the quality of the finished product because there are no computer generated false lines that need to be found and removed later with a much more complex process. %B Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America %I Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States %C United States %V 35 %P 276 - 276 %8 2003/11/01/ %@ 00167592 %G eng %U https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/finalprogram/abstract_64322.htm %N 66 %! Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America %0 Conference Proceedings %B Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America %D 2009 %T Dynamic digital maps; an outreach tool for geoscience research, mapping and education in National Park Service administered lands %A Condit, Christopher D. %A Steven A Nathan %A Stephen B Mabee %K #StaffPubs %K cartography %K digital cartography %K digital data %K digital terrain models %K education %K Environmental geology 22 %K government agencies %K land use %K mapping %K national parks %K public lands %K research %K U. S. National Park Service %K United States %X The Dynamic Digital Map of Selected Sedimentary Rocks in Western Massachusetts (DDM-SedRxWMa) is an example of what can be developed for all National Park Administered land. On starting the program, the user chooses the media source: either "Web-Access" (from a server) or "Local Access" (from DVD, flash or disk drive) and immediately sees a "Home Screen". The Home Screen displays the location of five detailed maps and buttons linked to Indexes (lists) of DDM content. Each map contains numbered icons that link that location to a field guide of that site. Camera icons on the detailed maps point in the direction photos were taken; many photos are oblique aerials that place the map features in context. The aerials contain camera icons of ground photos along the field trip route. The maps can be toggled between an orthophoto map or a topographic map, each geo-referenced. Key field guide locations have 360-degree QuickTime panoramics. All images and movies have captions. The DDM-SedRxWMa program is made from the DDM-Template and is capable of displaying text (captions or field guides) at 3 different user-selectable levels. The text might instead be displayed in 3 different languages. The DDM-SedRxWMa, which includes a 7 minute automated guided tour, can be downloaded at http://ddm.geo.umass.edu/ddm-sedrxwma/ The DDM-Template is an open source program that anyone can use to make their own DDM. It and a step-by-step manual (the "Cookbook") are available along with over 20 DDMs at http://ddm.geo.umass.edu). Making a DDM from the Template requires the use of the relatively inexpensive and easy to learn, multi-platform programming environment Runtime Revolution (www.runrev.com). Maps and photos (jpeg files) and movies are stored outside the program, which acts as an organizational framework and index to present it. Text and data are saved within the program and can be imported from html, rtf or txt format files. Map unit labels, sample sites, and graphics, such as camera icons (created in the Template) can be overlain on the maps or images; and provide a link to view the associated data or images. Once the Template has been modified and renamed, a single step creates 3 royalty-free, stand-alone programs, one each for Unix, Windows and Macintosh operating systems. A DDM program matching the user's operating system can be made available online. %B Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America %I Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States %C United States %V 41 %P 365 - 365 %8 2009/10/01/ %@ 00167592 %G eng %U https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2009AM/finalprogram/abstract_166833.htm %N 77 %! Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America