FieldBook and GeoDatabase: tools for field data acquisition and analysis

doi:10.1016/S0098-3004(99)00078-3

Computers & Geosciences

Volume 25, Issue 10, December 1999, Pages 1101-1111

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(99)00078-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

We introduce FieldBook and GeoDatabase, 2 new and effective tools for geologic field data acquisition and analysis. FieldBook is an application for Apple's Newton MessagePad. Geological data collected at the outcrop, including notes and drawings, can be entered directly and on-site. The formalization of the multiparameter information leads directly to a consistent database. This procedure results in a complete, up-to-date database where all information collected by different researchers in a project is available anytime, and no data are lost. GeoDatabase is an application based on FileMaker™ Pro, representing the FieldBook interface on PC/Macintosh. GeoDatabase provides extensive search possibilities and strong export features that are needed for field-data analysis, either in the field or in the office. It can be used as a central database within a local network with several users on either PC or a Macintosh. FieldBook and GeoDatabase both are simple to use, yet they satisfy the demands of field campaigns involving numerous scientists. Applications of field projects in the crystalline basement of the Salalah area and the Masirah ophiolite are given.

Introduction

Computer assisted data acquisition methods for field geology have been developed by several research groups in recent years (e.g. Schetselaar, 1995, Brodaric, 1997).

“Most geological field surveys consist of collecting data at discrete locations throughout a designated region” (Rogers and Brodaric, 1996). Field mapping and sampling campaigns are relatively simple to manage if no more than two persons are involved. On the other hand, if fieldwork extends over a long period of time or involves successive teams of investigators, it becomes difficult to monitor the state of the project and to plan focused field activities. In general, much of the knowledge acquired when geologists map tends to disappear in personal field books and may be unavailable to those who carry out further field or laboratory work (Troop and Cherer, 1991). In order to overcome these problems, we developed a computer-based tool that largely replaces field book and pencil during systematic field data acquisition. The introduction of our software and hardware combination ‘FieldBook’ and ‘GeoDatabase’ serves several practical purposes, including

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Data acquisition directly at the outcrop (samples, descriptions, measurements, drawings), thus ensuring the greatest possible integrity of recorded field data
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Central database storage of all records entered previously (by any investigator)
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Planning tool to focus further field activities (e.g. sampling strategy)
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Export of data to other applications, e.g. for map display of samples, stereographic projections of structural data
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User-defined reports, such as listings of different combinations of database fields
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Efficient searches for specific information in the field immediately available from the day it was collected.

As compared to traditional data acquisition, computer-aided database management gives more information in less time, and while it may not speed up research, it certainly assists with the use of an ever increasing amount of information (Struik et al., 1991).

FieldBook in its developmental-stage was designed as a HyperCard™ stack running on a Powerbook (Apple's laptop computer). During fieldwork, notes were recorded on paper and then entered into the computer periodically (discussed in Section 4.2 and illustrated in Fig. 6). The present version of FieldBook, however, makes use of the pen-based data entry technology of Apple's Newton MessagePad. Data capture occurs directly at the source, i.e. outcrop, where information is originally observed and interpreted. This avoids duplication of effort in the capture of field data (by keyboard entry of hand-written field notes) and allows the user to make sketches digitally.

Implementing FieldBook into a geoscience database such as GeoDatabase, enables all participants to benefit from quick access to up-to-date information. A complete data archive is obtained during the entire project.

FieldBook and GeoDatabase emphasize mainly applications for hard rock petrology and structural geology. Extensions are possible (and simple to implement) for other fields, such as sedimentology and stratigraphy and for any other discipline in which spatially distributed data are collected. They are discussed in Section 7.

Section snippets

Structure of FieldBook

FieldBook handles a variety of data types, including terms/names read from a menu-driven catalogue (e.g. lithology), numeric values (e.g. orientation of structures), free text (descriptions, notes) and drawings. FieldBook consists of a single database with each entry stored as a record. According to the variable nature of the information of different observations, the records in the database (e.g. outcrop descriptions, data related to samples, measurements) can be composed of different fields.

Data acquisition and backup

The program is designed for the Apple Newton MessagePad, which allows direct data entry at the outcrop, and can be performed as fast as in traditional field notes. This has proved to save much of the time usually allocated in the evening to enter these data into a computer or to manually transfer and draft the daily observations. The Newton is a hand-held, pen-based system and has been found to be extremely reliable in every aspect (Briner, 1995); indeed, it seems predestined as an electronic

Features of GeoDatabase

GeoDatabase is a FileMaker™ Pro application and is, like other databases, made up of records which consist of different fields. GeoDatabase fields can store many types of data: text, numbers, dates, times, pictures, calculations and summaries. The records can be displayed in different layouts. Layouts are the way information is presented and not how it is stored. After importing the data from the Newton, a standard layout with all fields belonging to one record is created. However, layouts

Applications of FieldBook and GeoDatabase in some field projects

The first example presents the application of FieldBook and GeoDatabase in order to establish the local lithostratigraphy and the structural relationships for a 1:100,000 map and some 1:20,000 maps of the Salalah basement in the Dhofar region of the Sultanate of Oman. The Salalah basement is an erosional window in the sedimentary cover of the crystalline basement of the Arabian shield. It consists of two late Proterozoic terranes, the meta-sedimentary Juffa Group and the mainly meta-magmatic

Hardware

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Newton MessagePad 120, 130 or 2000 with Newton OS 2.0.
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Apple Macintosh, e.g. Powerbook with 68040 Processor or higher (Notebook computers capable of operating from battery power are preferable, especially in remote areas, as batteries offer uninterrupted and filtered power).
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or: PC with at least 486 processor running WINDOWS 3.x or higher.

Software

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FieldBook: Newton software to enter field data at the outcrop. Data entry is largely self-explanatory and details are described in a handbook.
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FieldBook

FieldBook

General field data acquisition is the main target of this application and as such it is open to almost any subject and branch of science.

Extensions for projects other than hardrock mapping/petrology can easily be added to the FieldBook by editing pop-up menus with the FieldBook-Administrator (see Section 6 for details). GPS (Global Positioning System) integration with external GPS-receivers for direct input of coordinates should be possible in the near future with the FieldBook application. The

Distribution

FieldBook, FieldBook Administrator and the GeoDatabase are distributed electronically at no cost. Current versions may be retrieved from http://www.earthsci.unibe.ch/projects/newton/. Although the authors cannot provide any professional support service, they welcome comments and will attempt to respond to questions from users regarding the software. The authors cannot, however, guarantee the integrity nor the proper performance of the software.

Acknowledgements

Numerous members of the Mineralogy and Petrology Institute of the University of Berne have tested several versions of the software during different projects in the Sultanate of Oman and in Switzerland and have improved its quality by their criticism. The combined efforts of field geologists with their mapping experience and computer scientists with their abilities to fulfill the geologists' wishes led to the present solution. This work forms part of a Ph.D. thesis completed by A. Briner in 1997

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FieldBook and GeoDatabase: tools for field data acquisition and analysis☆

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Structure of FieldBook

Data acquisition and backup

Features of GeoDatabase

Applications of FieldBook and GeoDatabase in some field projects

Hardware

Software

FieldBook

Distribution

Acknowledgements

Computers & Geosciences

Computers & Geosciences

NEWTON: des Geologen neuer Feldassistent. Ein Erlebnisbericht aus der Wüste

Apple Education Notes