Geologic Subcommittee

The subcommittee’s accomplishments for 2015 include the following:

• Through coordination provided by the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) project, the USGS, State Geological Surveys (represented by the Association of American State Geologists (AASG)), and the National Park Service completed the initial stage of evaluation and test implementation of a standard geologic map database design that is intended to be proposed as a FGDC Standard (see ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/NCGMP09). This design, temporarily named NCGMP09, was developed in 2009, under auspices of the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. The agencies noted above worked through each section of the documentation and GIS database design, and recommended a set of modifications. This work was accomplished through a few monthly teleconferences, several listserves for communicating technical challenges and conclusions, and an interagency working group. Upon completion of the recommended changes, NCGMP09 will be republished as a Version 2, and will then be brought before the FGDC Geologic Data Subcommittee for planning to propose as an FGDC standard; this is anticipated to be initiated in 2016. Having the FGDC approval on a standard has a noticeable effect, which is proved by the acceptance of the Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization by the community.