ROLLA, MO, MARCH 20, 2009 — Garnering the “Best Poster Presentation” award at the 12th Annual Missouri Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Conference held in February is a first for Edith Starbuck, who is a registered geologist with Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla.
Starbuck’s poster titled, Surficial Material and Bedrock Geologic Mapping at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey, describes the process the department’s geologic investigations unit staff use to create geologic maps for Missouri.
Geologic maps are essential tools in planning Missouri’s future. They enable us to optimize the use of water, fuel and mineral resources and minimize environmental degradation and hazards. The potential impact on Missouri’s economy is staggering. According to Meeting Challenges with Geologic Maps, Series 7, published by the American Geological Institute, the value of geologic maps is 25 to 39 times the cost of producing them.
When asked about the award Starbuck said, “It is exciting to have the work of the geologic investigations unit recognized in this way. The efforts to improve our process have been incremental through the years but when you stand back and look at it, we really have come a long way.”
“The Missouri GIS Advisory Committee was pleased to recognize Ms. Starbuck,” said Elizabeth Cook, a committee member. “Her poster illustrated a complex, yet seamless process of taking geologic data from in-field collection to finished map production. The goal of the process, as with all GIS-aided work, is to improve the collection, interpretation, presentation and overall quality of spatial data.”
As one would imagine with the explosion of technology relating to computers, data collection and map development methods have changed significantly since the division began implementing the use of GIS in 1997.
Today, notebook computers equipped with GIS software and a GPS receiver allow geologists to enter data in the field. In the office, the process involves incorporating imagery, file data and field data (new and existing). Geologists then analyze and interpret the data to create geologic maps, cross sections, stratigraphic columns and textual information to describe the geology of the area. These components are included in the final map layout.
The poster session attracted 18 posters from various state agencies. In addition to Starbuck, entries submitted by the department include those by geologists Dave Gaunt and Dave Erickson. Gaunt’s entry was titled, Surficial Material Geologic Map of the Columbia Bottom and Granite City 7.5 minute quadrangle in St. Charles and St. Louis Counties, Missouri. Erickson’s posters were titled, Groundwater-Level Observation Well Network and Groundwater-Level Decline in Southwestern Missouri. Scaled down images of the four entries can be seen online: www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/mogis.htm.
Geologic maps and other publications, including The Geologic Column of Missouri authored by Starbuck, are available at the Maps and Publications desk located at 111 Fairgrounds Road in Rolla. You can reach the publications desk by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-368-2125, or visit online at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology. Additional information about the Water Resources Center is available online: www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wrc/. For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel.
###
Editor: Photo is available at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/images/starbuckgis.jpg.
Photo Caption: Edith Starbuck, registered geologist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey, alongside the poster that garnered her “Best Poster Presentation” award at the 2009 Missouri GIS Conference.
The Yucatan Peninsula presents student group travelers with a destination that combines co-curricular adventures in history, ecology, and culture. Here, one can find some of the world’s richest archaeological ruins, exotic surroundings, and friendly people. It’s said that those who make friends with a local, have made friends for life. Separating the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula lies east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a northwestern geographic partition separating Central America from the rest of North America. The capital of Yucatan, Merida, is an ideal hub from which students can explore the Gulf of Mexico. Combining its colonial roots with a contemporary feel, Merida is known as the “White City,” for both its predominance of white limestone buildings and its clean streets and plazas. Guided tours of… Continue reading
Basically prior to the coming of the Europeans or more aptly introduction of Western education in Nigeria there were basically two distinct education systems in Nigeria namely the Indigenous system and Quoranic type. Formal or Western education was brought to Nigeria perhaps in 1843, a system which added to the already existing two bring the systems to three. Indigenous system entailed becoming apprenticed in crafts and services in leather works, painting, medicine etc passed down in families. Skills are acquired in this way and utilized. Quoranic system had to do with Islamic education in which a child learns the whole lot of the chapters of the quoran usually by rote and said his prayers regularly as required.
Western education in Nigeria as introduced by the Europeans mainly was all about… Continue reading
Seville and Athens are two cities in two different countries. Seville is in Spain, while Athens is in Greece. So what do these two cities have in common? They are both rich in history, and they both have a fascinating heritage. For this reason, travelers who are interested in magnificent architectures, monuments, galleries and museums or archeological sites can look forward to a real treat. In Seville, buildings and monuments you must not miss include the Alcazar, the Cathedral, and the Giralda. All three are religious buildings, used for prayers or performing religious rituals. If you care to dig a little deeper, each of them will have a different story to tell. For example, there is a story about Giralda there goes something like this. This cathedral was used by… Continue reading
Comments