Geologic maps are the fundamental building blocks of surface and subsurface three-dimensional geologic framework models of the Earth’s crust. However, as the production and availability of geologic map databases continues to increase, inconsistent data models and the lack of synthesized, national geologic map data at scales appropriate for informed decision making negatively affect the functional integration of geologic map data with other national datasets. The Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) is the publication and archive database standard for geologic map data funded by the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, and standardizes the organization and content of a single map database. However, synthesizing multiple databases into a seamless geologic map database creates a different set of challenges and database needs than GeMS was designed to accommodate. The Seamless Integrated Geologic Mapping (SIGMa) extension is designed to expand the capabilities of GeMS by enabling integration of map-based geoscience data. In particular, the SIGMa extension enables capturing a diverse and ever-changing set of map units, produced by many contributors operating independently, and by incremental and noncontiguous assembly and publication. Feature-level metadata fields allow data sources and digital compilation methods to be attributed separately and a relational structure is designed to support the link between data sources and features attributed with multiple data sources. Instead of paragraph-style map-unit descriptions that can be highly inconsistent, SIGMa parses fundamental map-unit attributes, including material, genetic process, and age, into thematically specific fields. The SIGMa extension uses a hierarchical map-unit organization to facilitate a dynamic and evolving, formation-level stratigraphic framework. The hierarchy is developed around geologic provinces that represent temporally restricted geologic events, processes, and settings. Geologic provinces can include magmatic events, depositional settings associated with tectonic processes or stable continental margins, and processes that are actively shaping the modern landscape. A geologic province hierarchy places map units into a geologic context at subregional to continental scales and provides the flexibility to support incremental assembly of the stratigraphy.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Seamless Integrated Geologic Mapping (SIGMa) extension to the Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20225115 |
| Authors | Kenzie J. Turner, Jeremiah B. Workman, Joseph Colgan, Amy K. Gilmer, Margaret E. Berry, Samuel Johnstone, Kathleen F. Warrell, Marieke Dechesne, D. Paco VanSistine, Ren A. Thompson, Adam M. Hudson, Kristine Zellman, Donald S. Sweetkind, Chester A. Ruleman |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series Number | 2022-5115 |
| Index ID | sir20225115 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
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Ren Thompson, PhD
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Kristine Zellman
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Kenzie Turner
Research GeologistEmailPhoneJeremiah Workman
EmailPhoneJoseph Colgan
Research GeologistEmailPhoneAmy Gilmer, PhD
Research GeologistEmailPhoneMargaret E Berry
Research GeologistEmailPhoneSam A Johnstone
Research GeologistEmailPhoneMarieke Dechesne
Research GeologistEmailPhonePaco Van Sistine
EmailPhoneRen Thompson, PhD
Research GeologistEmailPhoneAdam M Hudson
Research GeologistEmailPhoneKristine Zellman
Research GeologistEmailPhoneDonald Sweetkind
Research GeologistEmailPhoneCal Ruleman
Research GeologistEmailPhone