Biologic, climatologic, and other scientific data should be considered in the context of the geologic framework provided by mapping at appropriate scales, yielding increased understanding and encouraging further multidisciplinary scientific investigations. They stimulate scientific thinking, questions, and ideas and promote further development of geologic methods and techniques. Geologic maps provide a context for testing scientific theories, hypotheses, and models. The preparation of geologic maps is a fundamental skill unique to the science of geology. Our understanding of issues important to society, such as natural hazards, water resources, and soil conservation, is also grounded in geologic maps. Geologic maps can also show how the physical environment has been impacted by human activity. They provide information on Earth's structure and other features at and below Earth's surface and offer baseline data for mineral and energy resources. Geologic maps are tools portraying interpretive, three-dimensional views of rock, sediment, and soil units that depict their distribution and age relationships. This position statement (1) summarizes the consensus views of GSA regarding the importance of geological mapping for natural-resource and land-use decision making (2) encourages partnerships among government, academia, and industry to share mapping expertise and technology (3) promotes the development of digital data and maps in a readily accessible and useable form and (4) encourages educational institutions to value and reward the teaching of geologic mapping skills. To improve the scientific basis for public and private natural resource and land-use decisions, The Geological Society of America (GSA) supports comprehensive geologic mapping on local, state, and national scales and advocates increased public investments for current state and national geologic mapping programs.

Geological age map