TY - Generic T1 - An update of geologic mapping in Massachusetts T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 2004 A1 - Joseph P Kopera A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Scott A Salamoff A1 - Hildreth, Carol KW - #StaffPubs KW - data KW - data acquisition KW - data processing KW - digital data KW - Geologic maps 14 KW - mapping KW - massachusetts KW - National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program KW - programs KW - publications KW - regional KW - review KW - STATEMAP KW - United States AB - Despite the state's relatively high population density and decades of detailed study of the bedrock geology, only about half of the 7.5' quadrangles in Massachusetts have been published as GQ series geologic maps. As the state's population continues to grow, the availability of basic geologic data becomes increasingly crucial for informed land-use and water-management decision making. Much of the published 1:24000 scale geologic mapping predates recent advances in the understanding of regional tectonics, and needs to be updated. The Office of the State Geologist has begun a geologic mapping program in Massachusetts to address these needs. Two mapping projects were conducted through the STATEMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping program in 2003. These projects focused on 7.5' quadrangles along the I-495 corridor, which is experiencing extensive population growth and development. The first project involved conversion of published 1:24,000-scale surficial geology to digital form for 10 quadrangles in southeastern Massachusetts. A semi-automated process was developed for this project that easily converts published paper geologic maps into vectorized, georeferenced datalayers. The second project involved 1:24000-scale geologic mapping of the Marlborough quadrangle in east-central Massachusetts. Products include traditional maps of bedrock and surficial geology as well as two new prototype products: a fracture characterization map and a surficial materials map. These projects mark the first time in Massachusetts' history that quadrangle-scale geologic data will be available in digital form to consultants and stakeholders, thus greatly expediting and improving the use and analysis of all geologic data. In addition, the inclusion of fracture characterization and surficial materials maps adds substantially to the value of traditional geologic map products. The new maps provide supplemental data on the hydrologic characteristics of the bedrock and the vertical stacking of surficial deposits that previously was unavailable. STATEMAP projects in 2004 will continue to focus along the I-495 corridor, and will involve revision and new mapping in the Wilmington, Reading, South Groveland, Lawrence, Hudson, and Oxford quadrangles. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 36 SN - 00167592 IS - 22 N1 - Accession Number: 2005-048993; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 38th annual meeting; Geological Society of America, Southeastern Section, 53rd annual meeting; Washington, DC, United States; Conference Date: 20040325; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 58; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200518; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 38th annual meeting; Geological Society of America, Southeastern Section, 53rd annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER -