Assessing the nationwide economic benefits of geologic mapping

Assessing the nationwide economic benefits of geologic mapping

Re: Assessing the nationwide economic benefits of geologic mapping

All,

You are invited to participate in a national assessment of the economic benefits of geologic mapping coordinated by the Association of American State Geologists. To participate, copy and paste this link into your browser – https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5772757/e216571551c0. It directs you to an online questionnaire focusing on your use of geologic maps and associated reports, and their value to your business or activity.      

This assessment is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted for the discipline of geology. It comes at a time when (1) significant improvements to infrastructure have long been touted and now more than ever are required for optimum economic recovery; (2) mineral (especially critical minerals) and energy resource assessments are crucial for technological advancements and economic diversification/recovery; (3) understanding geologic hazards is increasingly important due to population growth and existing/expanding infrastructure; and (4) climate change will likely impact infrastructure, natural resources and human livelihoods.

Infrastructure is the foundation upon which the services that we require for a healthy economy depend.  Building smart and sustainable infrastructure is predicated on national, regional and local insight into America’s natural resources and geologic hazards. This applies to (1) mineral or water resource development, {2) construction or improvement of new highways, bridges, sidewalks, and foundations, (3) environmental protection, (4) distribution systems for water and sewer, (5) pipelines, (6) energy development, and (7)  improvements to recreational areas.

I urge you to fill out the online questionnaire. The larger the response rate, the more significant are the results to assess the value of and to justify this most basic of geologic endeavors. This is also an opportunity to share with the greater geosciences community what your needs are and where you think we should focus mapping activities to best serve you. Results will be publicly available sometime in 2021.

Please answer as many questions as possible on the survey. If you should receive more than one request to fill out this survey, you only need to do so once. If you cannot fill out the questionnaire in one sitting, a button in the upper right, titled “Save and continue later”, asks for your email address, and will send you a message with a link directing you to where you left off. Please complete the online survey by November 2, 2020.   

Two statewide examples of cost and benefit studies of geological mapping can be viewed via these links.

Nevada - http://data.nbmg.unr.edu/public/freedownloads/sp/sp038.zip

Kentucky - http://library.isgs.illinois.edu/Pubs/pdfs/specialreports/sp-03.pdf

Thank you for participating.

Philip A. Pearthree, Ph.D.

Director and State Geologist

Arizona Geological Survey

University of Arizona