National Geological Map Database
of the Czech Republic

The National Geological Map Database (NGMD) is a relatively new term which can be explained as a thought concept of creating an integral geological information system – comprehensive knowledge bases containing not only all data and information included in the map archives but also those of geological databases formed simultaneously with geological mapping plans at various scales.

The concept, draft as a main point of R. Tomas’s PhD thesis of 2005, is based on a thorough analysis of the development phase reached in every single geological map database in the Czech Republic – GEOCR 25, 50, 500, and DigArchive – taking concurrently into account the contemporary stage of the national geological map database construction abroad, particularly in the USGS (USA). The NGMD creation concept was also influenced by the increased social demand for geoscience information on both regional and global levels.

In 2006, the Czech Geological Survey launched its gradual implementation of the NGMD concept. The conceptual data model of the NGMD had ben created on the basis of the data model GEOCR 25 used for 1:25,000 scale mapping. On analysing the information content, the GEOCR 25 model has been substantially expanded by the latest geoscience data and information, thus enableing the follow-up prototype of the physical database, the ESRI geodatabase, to develop. These particular data and information exist in non-structured form at the present time, namely as a legend to, or the explanations of, the geological maps.

Another aspect taken into account when creating the database prototype includes an effort to make more information data accessible to the terrain basic recconnaissance and map construction, which also contributes to putting the data in more precise terms and explaining the possibilities of the use of the GIS instruments by the CHS experts (Tomas, in print; Tomas – Krejèí, 2006). Nowadays, the ESRI geodatabase prototype is being tested on the two pilot map projects (the Jeseníky Mts. area and the project of geological mapping and prospection in Mongolia).

An integral part of the NGMD construction is the maximum standardization of the geoscience terminology, which, in the course of the year 2006, was mainly represented by another stage of bringing coding databases up to date (including harmonization and data linking with the coding of the Czech Geological Survey and the Geofond), and above all new steps – the third version – making towards the full special harmonization of the geological units of the GEOCR 50 system (compact national information system of 1:50,000 scale map data), accessible on-line, see the CGS Map Server.

The NGMD completing also comprises the construction of the modern metadata geoscience system which is based on the international ISO-19115 and 19139 standards, simultaneously reflecting the present demands on completing metadata in national and international contexts (Krejèí et al.).

References

Tomas, R. (2005): Koncepce a rozvoj národní geologické mapové databáze v návaznosti na evropské a globální datové infrastruktury. PhD. Thesis. Geographical Institute, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Brno. (In Czech)

Tomas, R. (in print): The concept and development of the National Geological Map Database in the Czech Republic. In David R. Soller, USGS: Digital Mapping Techniques 06, U.S. Geological Survey. Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Tomas, R., Krejèí, Z. (2006): Tvorba národní geologické mapové databáze ÈR. In 15. konference GIS ESRI a Leica Geosystems v ÈR, s. 8, 16. ARCDATA PRAHA, s.r.o. Praha. ISBN 80-239-7435-1. (In Czech)