ARTICLE IN PRESS

doi:10.1016/j.ca

Computers & Geosciences 33 (2007) 294–296

www.elsevier.com/locate/cageo

Software review

G. Brimhall, A. Vanegas, Software Review—Geo-

Mapper, Digital Mapping Lab at the University of

California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 2006 (US

$3225).

There are a variety of powerful and practicaldigital field mapping software applicationsavailable today in part due to the recent technolo-gical advances in lightweight portable tablet PCs aswell as smaller and more accurate GPS units(Edmondo, 2002). These field mapping applicationsinclude ArcGISr and ArcPadr from ESRIr,MapItr and GeoMapperr. Field mapping can bedone on a variety of hardware including desktopcomputers, tablet PCs and PDA devices. Thefollowing is a review of GeoMapperr based on a3-month field study, Spring of 2005 in Java,Indonesia.

GeoMapperr is designed specifically for inter-active digital field mapping by geologists for mining,petroleum, geotechnical, as well as research andeducation although legends have also been devel-oped for mapping archeology and undergroundutilities (Kramer, 2000; Brimhall and Vanegas,2002). GeoMapperr contains a set of toolswhich a geologist employs to perform fieldwork in real-time without using paper. Instead ofpencils, a stylus/PC-based digitizing software(PenMapr) allows users to ‘point-and-click’ onbuttons of a pen tablet portable PC computer,which records field data including contacts, faults,outcrop lithologies, formations, strikes and dips,etc. (Brimhall and Vanegas, 2001a, b). These toolsare based on the Anaconda Copper MiningCompany’s mapping procedures developed bymining geologists in Butte, Montana from 1900 to1985 and contain similar map symbols (Brimhallet al., 2006). GeoMapperr can be used in conjunc-tion with satellite imagery, works with GPS in thefield, and is designed to accommodate several otherproducts and applications as well (Brimhall andVanegas, 2001a, b).

geo.2006.07.001

GeoMapperr is organized to support all opera-tions of mapping including (Brimhall and Vanegas2001b, 2002):

�

expandable field project files, � customization of mapping legend lithologies and

formations by point-and-click,

� digital topographic base maps, � ortho-images, � GPS linkage with on-screen image coordinates, � reflectorless LIDAR lasers, � structural symbols (i.e., contacts, faults, strike

and dip, trend and plunge of fold axes, etc.),

� mineralization, � wallrock alteration, � editing tools, � zoom to change scale, � record samples, � locate, store, and retrieve oriented digital images, � add text and print maps, � export files to GIS systems.

The software package currently costs $3225USDwith a $225USD discount for educational use perlicense and discounted licenses for bulk orders (as ofJune, 2006). The license includes installation ofGeoMapperr and PenMapr software, technicalsupport, and user training (Brimhall, 2006, personalcommunication). The software is marketed underGeorge Brimhall’s Rubicon Digital Mapping As-sociates which has an exclusive license with theUniversity of California to market and support thesoftware. The software runs off the MicrosoftWindowsr operating system (Kramer, 2000; Brim-hall, 2006, personal communication).

Training and technical support for GeoMapperr

software is available from Rubicon Digital Map-ping Associates. Training took place for twograduate students involved with our digital mappingproject at George Brimhall’s Digital Mapping Labat UC Berkeley. There was a 2-day training session,which included a Powerpointr presentation about

ARTICLE IN PRESSSoftware review / Computers & Geosciences 33 (2007) 294–296 295

general use of the software, followed by hands-ontraining and ending with specific questions andanswers.

The GeoMapperr program is well organized anduser friendly because of its geological design. Atoolbar at the top of the program’s screen containsmost of the tools needed to design, edit, and interactin real-time with the map. The toolbar uses color-coded master toolbars and familiar symbols forstraightforward and rapid navigation by the user.Green buttons are most commonly used. Yellowbuttons are less commonly used. Red buttonsrequire special attention and include Save and Exitfunctions. When completing a specific mappingtask, the user can design his/her own new symbols.Using the software with a GPS in the field makesfinding your location and placing the appropriatemap symbols in the correct location on the digitalgeologic map quick and easy. All data can beexported from the program and shown as a textdocument (Brimhall and Vanegas, 2001a).

GeoMapperr software was used to digitally mapa portion of Java, Indonesia for the University ofGadjah Mada (UGM) and San Diego State Uni-versity (SDSU) collaborative research project spon-sored by Chevron Corporation entitled ‘‘InteractiveDigital Field Mapping and Neogene Tectono-Stratigraphic Evolution of the Kendeng andRembang Deformed Zones East-Central Java,Indonesia’’ (Peterson, 2006).

The software proved very useful for creating adigital field map in Java, Indonesia. The digitalgeologic map was prepared in the field using thisspecialized software on Fujitsur tablet PCs. Eachtablet PC had a convenient carrying case with strapsand a holder for the computer’s stylus pen. AGarmin Rino 130r GPS was connected to eachtablet PC and provided a Universal TransverseMercator (UTM) position within the GeoMapperr

software. Structural data, field notes, digital pictures,sample locations and other pertinent field data weregeo-referenced in the field on the digital map usingGPS locations. Data at the end of the day weresynchronized with all the tablet PCs since each PCwas used by different team members to map differentoutcrops in the study areas on any given day.

Although a powerful mapping tool, GeoMap-perr needs improvements in handling, organizing,editing and presenting data as well as improving thespeed of data entry using the stylus. The followingcomments regard specific limitations noted whenusing the software with suggested solutions.

Landsat 7 images are eight-band thematic mapper(TM) satellite images that show the fabric of thefield area and complemented the digital geologicmap created when geo-referenced as a layer in theGeoMapperr program (ASTER, 2005). LargeLandsat data sets (�200MB/image) were used inthis project as layers to map upon. These largedigital raster graphic (DRG) images, however, hadto be sectioned off into smaller file sizes that aremanageable within GeoMapperr/PenMapr filehandling capabilities. Sizes larger than 150MB canin fact be used as DRG base maps, but at theexpense of the map display refresh rate. The 150MBis thus only a suggested raster base map maximum.Images that are larger than about 500MB, however,cannot be used as base maps without having theprogram stall.

When organizing and editing mapped data, thereis currently no way to highlight a group of mappedsymbols and then edit the highlighted symbols (e.g.change font). A drag, highlight and edit tool for themapped symbols would be a powerful add-onfeature for this product.

Since a select set of symbols within a single layer/database cannot be hidden from display there is noeasy way to display only those map symbols that theuser may wish to show on his/her geologic map. Theindividual map symbols must first be selected andthen exported to a new map. It is, however, possibleto hide all symbols assigned to a specific layer/database by freezing the layer through the layerssetup button. Using a geographic information system(GIS)-based data catalog where users can select orunselect symbols within the symbol layer, like an onor off switch for symbols, as in ESRIr ArcGISr,would be helpful. All the data would be available onthe map and only the data the user wishes to displayin the final product would be visible.

When a user zooms in and out of a layer thesymbols do not change size. The scenario thenoccurs in which mapped symbols zoomed to a smallarea often overlap and are unreadable whenzoomed. At every scale, whether zoomed in/out orun-zoomed, each symbol should adjust its sizeaccordingly and be readable when represented onthe map.

Finally, the ‘point-and-click’ method of enteringfield notes and data into the GeoMapperr programusing a stylus on the tablet PC is often timeconsuming. A faster way to record importantinformation in the field onto your map would bethe addition of voice notes or voice recognition

ARTICLE IN PRESSSoftware review / Computers & Geosciences 33 (2007) 294–296296

software. For example, many physicians presentlyemploy such software to transcribe medical reportsinstantly as they dictate into a microphone.GeoMapperr could implement a similar function-ality to its software using geologic terminology.Currently, the digital mapping software MapItr

allows the user to make voice recordings, but it doesnot convert these recordings to text (MapIt, 2006).

GeoMapperr was chosen for the Java, Indonesiafield mapping project due to its familiar and easy touse symbols as well as the power of the hardwarewhich supports it. Java, Indonesia was a very difficultplace to map, especially for the San Diego StateUniversity geologists who were accustomed to fieldwork in the dry, desolate deserts of SouthernCalifornia. Java is a densely populated island withthick tropical vegetation and few exposed outcrops.Some outcrops would have been very difficult andtime consuming to pinpoint with a GPS, locate on asatellite image, and then place by hand the appro-priate geologic symbols on a contour map. GeoMap-perr replaces these individual steps all in oneprogram in a timely manner. The ten quadranglesour group mapped in 3 months (�10,000 fieldrecordings) in Java would most likely not have beenas successfully nor as accurately recorded without theGeoMapperr software (Peterson, 2006).

Until the advent of GeoMapperr and othermapping software, geologists had to laboriouslyprepare and annotate their paper maps. Digital fieldmapping with GeoMapperr, however, allows for anordered and efficient input of data, which can thenbe exported as well as complemented with satelliteor other geo-referenced imagery. With improve-ments in the handling, organization, editing andpresentation of data together with increasing thespeed of data entry, the GeoMapperr can be aneven more powerful tool for use by field geologistsand other earth science specialists.

References

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University, New Haven, Conneticut, USA /http://www.yale.

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Brimhall, G., Vanegas, A., 2001a. GeoMapper Universal digital

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Peterson, E., 2006. Interactive digital field mapping and neogene

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deformed zones East-Central Java. Indonesia: Master of

Science Thesis, San Diego State University, San Diego,

California, USA, pp. 1–82.

Eric Peterson1, Tom Heidrick, Eric FrostDepartment of Geological Sciences, San Diego State

University, 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego,

CA 92182-0001, USA

E-mail address: ekp123@gmail.com (E. Peterson)

1Corresponding author at: WesternGeco, 10001 Richmond

Avenue, P.O. Bax 2469, Houston, TX 77042-4299, USA. E-mail

addresses: ekp123@gmail.com, epeterson@slb.com.