COGEOMAP; a new era in cooperative geologic mapping

A program of cooperative geologic mapping was established between the U.S. Geological Survey and the State geological surveys in fiscal year 1985. The main purpose of the program is to increase general-purpose geologic mapping throughout the Nation. By combining State and Federal resources for geologic mapping through this cooperative program, new mapping has been started, and both geologic and geophysical maps that resulted from the program have already been published.

The program grew from mapping projects in 18 States in fiscal year 1985 to a program involving 29 States in 1986, as the combined State and Federal resources in the program grew from about $2 million to nearly $3 million. As the program enlarges its scope, it faces the challenge of producing high-quality maps with uniform standards while promoting the use of new technologies to increase the speed of geologic and geophysical mapping and map production.