Mars Mariner 9 5M Quads GIS Conversion

Primary Authors

USGS Astrogeology Science Center

Originators

Alex Huff, Marc Hunter

Publisher

USGS Astrogeology Science Center

Abstract

The 1:5,000,000-scale, Mariner-9 geological maps were the first to divide mars into 30 discrete latitudinal and longitudinal areas called the ‘Mars Charts’ (MCs) (Skinner et al., 2006, Gaither et al., 2015; Batson, 1973). These maps were chosen based upon this historical importance, as comparison of the first, Mariner 9-based MCs with modern mapping of Mars quadrangles is the clearest way to see how geologic planetary mapping has developed over time. In order to maintain historical accuracy, these maps were digitized instead of renovated. The MCs were georeferenced to the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) Daytime Infrared (IR) mosaic (100 m/pixel), but the mapper’s contact locations and unit interpretations were preserved as originally intended (Christensen et al., 2004). Future work to renovate the MCs would entail adjusting contact locations to where we would interpret the mapper to have placed it based on the THEMIS IR base map. Additionally, map units could be extrapolated or adjusted in order to be consistent across MC boundaries and ages could be applied to the geologic units. References: * Batson R. M. (1973) JGR, 78, 4424-4435. * Christensen P. R. et al. (2004) Space Sci. Rev., 110. * Skinner, J. A., Jr, T. M. Hare, and K. L. Tanaka 2006, LPSC XXXVII, abstract #2331. * Gaither T. A. et al. (2015) LPSC XLVI, Abstract #2522.

Purpose

To scan, spatially register, and convert hard-copy 1:5M Mariner 9 geologic maps into a GIS format.

Contact and Distribution

Format

Geologic Map, Vector Data

Access Constraints

None

Access Scope

MRCTR

Use Constraints

Public domain

Supplemental Information

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/2501.pdf

Native Data Set Environment

ESRI Arcinfo

Astrogeology Theme

Geographic Information System (GIS), Geology

Temporal Keywords

Amazonian, Hesperian, Noachian

Mission Names

Mariner 9

Online Package Link

https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/mars_mariner_9_5m_quads_gis_conversion

External File Size

46235440

Online File Link

http://astropedia.astrogeology.usgs.gov/download/Mars/Geology/MarsMariner9_5MQuads_GIS_Conversion.zip

Contact Address

2255 N. Gemini Drive

Contact City

Flagstaff

Contact State

AZ

Contact Postal Code

86001

Contact Email

astroweb@usgs.gov

Progress

In Work

Update Frequency

As needed

Logical Consistency

Strict digitization of historical maps does not require any new interpretation of geologic features (as renovation does). However, there are subjective elements of the process that can affect the working consistency and preservation of the original mapping intent which must be identified and clearly documented, if not fully mitigated. The most common example of this is transition points between contact types where feature symbology cannot be differentiated.

Completeness Report

All maps have been digitized and assembled into their original MC Quads. The elements of the project were organized as a compressed (*.zip) package with four folders: (1) Data, containing the geodatabase (*.gdb) in both ArcMap 10.3 versions, layer files and any related GIS shapefiles such as quad boundaries; (2) Documents, with metadata, abstracts and supporting information; (3) Map Documents, containing projects (*.mxd) in 10.3 and 10.0 versions. A separate download contains the original source Maps which have been georeferenced (*.tiff).

Process Description

Contacts were digitized with at 1:200, 000 scale with a streaming tolerance of 500 map units, which were dissolved by contact type and planarized. Map units were built from contacts via Feature to Polygon tool, attributed with a coded domain created in the root of the geodatabase and symbolized with RGB values of source maps. For detailed information on the renovation process as applied to the global geologic map of Mars see the 2015 LPSC abstract by Skinner et al. www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2006/pdf/2331.pdf or Gaither et al. at www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/2522.pdf It is this concept of scientific evolution over time that has driven the Planetary Geologic Mapping (PGM) community to generate a workflow with which printed historical maps can be imported into ArcGIS to produce GIS data sets for the community. Included in the download documentation is a workflow graph to describe the steps taken to register, create the empty geodatabase container, digitize, attribute and release these maps.

Lineage

Process Date

2016-03-01

Source Title

Mars Mariner 9 5M-scale Geologic Maps

Source Online Linkage

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

Attribute Accuracy Report

Best Effort

Geospatial Information

Target

Mars

System

Mars

Minimum Latitude

-90

Maximum Latitude

90

Minimum Longitude

-180

Maximum Longitude

180

Direct Spatial Reference Method

Vector

Object Type

Grid Cell

Quad System

Mars 1:5M

Quad Name

Radius A

3396190

Radius C

3396190

Control Net

MOLA

Map Projection Name

Simple Cylindrical

Latitude Type

Planetocentric

Longitude Direction

Positive East

Longitude Domain

-180 to 180