Presented by: Sara McIlraith,Ministry of Northern Development & Mines (MNDM)

Enhancing Geology Field Work with ArcPad

Talk Outline• overview of Ministry of Northern Development and Mines• the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) maps out Ontario’s

geology• field data capture has migrated from pen and paper to

digital systems• developing an ArcPad digital data collection system• software and hardware discoveries• benefits• lessons learned• future plans

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM)

• The Ministry of Northern Development & Mines is part of the Ontario provincial government

• Northern Development division supports economicdevelopment, investment, marketing

• Mines and Minerals division has a regulatory function(claim staking, mine development), and creates/manages provincial framework geoscience data

• geoscience data is the responsibility of the Ontario Geological Survey

Organization Overview

• MNDM employs approximately 400 staff, and about 40% use GIS

• offices spread throughout the entire province• we have over 75 ESRI desktop licences, and ESRI server

licences• MNDM started using ESRI GIS software in 1997 (15

years)• Northern Development division is limited in GIS

applications, heaviest users are in the Mines and Mineralsdivision, and Ontario Geological Survey

Ontario Geological Survey• has been surveying Ontario’s geology for over 100 years (since 1891)

• geologists live and work in remote field camps throughout the summer

• navigate through the bush collecting data about the geology they encounter (and packs full of rocks)

• data is used by geologists to produce a geology map of their field area

• about 45% of Ontario has been mapped by ‘feet on the ground’projects (majority of unmapped area is in the Far North)

• strive to re-map areas within 25 year mapping cycle

Life in the Field !• resolve to be at one with nature – 24/7!

• camp life is pretty cool

• bringing the comforts of home to the bush can be challenging

• everything has to be rugged, easy to use and more importantly –bear proof !

OGS Geologists Pioneers in Adopting GIS

OGS geologists mapped with paper notebooks and air photos for 100 years

forward thinking group, discussed computer mapping as early as the 1970s

jumped on the GIS bandwagon early in the 1990spioneers in using hand held computers for digital data collection

in the field (Apple Newtons)

What do OGS Geologists Collect in the field?

spatial datapoint of observation, called stationspolygon area of outcropline defining boundary between rock types

station point

outcrop polygon

lithology line

attribute datadata is tied to the spatial objectmajority of data describes features found at a station:lithology, textures, structures, minerals

record information about samples and photos takencomplex data structure (relational database)

What do OGS Geologists Collect in the field?

Designing a Successful Field Data System

• OGS geologists are very self-reliant, and do almost all the technical

mapping components themselves

• must take this into consideration when developing a system for mapping

technology

• means that system must be simple, self containing and manageable in a

remote field camp environment

Balancing flexibility with standards

design decisions include:software

database/form designhardware

export database data to ArcPadsatellite images

geophysics

linework

geochemistry

Data Flow – collection to map

Software

BENEFITS• ArcPad is a natural extension of ArcGIS

• easy for geologists to ‘learn’ software

• for use on a hand-held computer or laptop

• data stored in shapefile format

• form based data collection

• full mapping capabilities

• very easy data migration between field and mapping software

The OGS maps in the field with ArcPad

Hardware

bigger isn’t always better!- know your needs- tested out many systems (iPAQ, Trimble)- great to finally have ‘all in one’- various GPS options (cable, wireless, built in)- ruggedness is very important- storage- cost is a factor- battery life

Evolving Software/Hardware• this project has been ongoing for almost 10 years• many different hardware systems (iPAQ, Trimble (2

models), various GPS units• software versions changed (ArcPad 7 to 10)• VB script customising• originally piggy-backed on system developed by the

Geological Survey of Canada (Ganfeld)• now doing our own customising/form design• evolution of data collection (from individual preference to

‘common legend’ and set of terms)

Database and Form Design

• form-based data entry provides structureand organises data collection (promotes standards)• must be user-friendly and intuitive (designed with the thought process of a geologist in mind)• huge benefit to having a map view while in the field• needs to easily fit into the master GIS database• flexibility must be built into the system (notes fields, able to modify picklists)• must be able to edit data while in the field (oops factor)• has to work independently (no server synching please)

Benefits• making field data collection more efficient and robust• huge time savings for geologists (no double data entry)• form based systems make data entry faster• simplifying the equipment carried in the bush• helping make data collection more straight-forward for students (less

guesswork)• standardisation promotes data modeling, being able to easily bring data from

many projects together• clients like having standardised data sets to work with

Lesson Learned• one of the keys to our success is having the geologists involved at

every step of this project• was really great to have the support of fellow ArcPad ‘gurus’ at the

GSC• really research your hardware needs, request units to ‘test drive’

before you buy• keep up to date on new hardware/software• make training staff a priority, and set aside time for it!

Future Plans

• move our ArcPad forms from VB Script to Python• look at switching from collecting data in shapefiles to a

geodatabase in ArcPad• this summer will be a major testing season of our new re-

designed forms based on the ‘common legend’

Questions?

THANK YOU !

Sara McIlraith (sarajane.mcilraith@ontario.ca)