Czech Geological Survey—Using the National Geodatabase GEOCR50

In 1994, the Czech Geological Survey (CGS) began to use GIS technology extensively to meet the increasing demand for digital information about the environment. GIS in the CGS is focused on the methods of spatial data processing, unification, and dissemination. Digital processing of geological and applied maps and the development of GIS follows standardized procedures using common geological dictionaries and graphic elements. Recently, the main objective has been to create and implement a uniform geological data model (geodatabase) and provide the public and the scientific community with easy access to geodata, such as CGS’ Map Server (www.geology.cz), via the World Wide Web.

The process of digitizing geological maps at 1:50,000 scale was part of a CGS project. The conversion of geological maps into digital form was divided into several steps—scanning of the source material for vectorization, transformation of the image projection system, and vectorization. Digitizing 214 map sheets of geological maps covering the entire Czech Republic was finished at the end of 1997. The implementation of the vector maps into the GEOCR50 database was completed in 1998.

GEOCR50 is a unique geographic information system, containing more than 260,000 mapped geological objects from the entire Czech Republic. The fundamental part of this geodatabase is the unified national geological index (legend), which consists of four main types of information—chronostratigraphical units, regional units, lithostratigraphical units, and lithological description of rocks. The geodatabase has been under revision since 1998 leading to the creation of a seamless digital geological map of the Czech Republic. This geodatabase has already been used for land use planning by government and local authorities.

The geological map of the Krkonose–Jizera mountains is a cartographic presentation of one part of the GEOCR50 geodatabase.