ARCHIVED Remote Predictive Mapping Glossary - Foreword

Terminology Bulletin 289

Canada's North, a land rich in mineral deposits and high in energy potential, is particularly intriguing to geologists. In order to further understand this large and remote area from a geological standpoint, a more time- and cost-efficient approach to mapping is required. Experts are continually working on new techniques to improve geological map coverage of such isolated areas.

Mapping in the traditional way demands many years of fieldwork and is often limited to a small region. With a growing need for knowledge as well as an ever-increasing demand for natural resources, scientists are finding ways to map larger areas within a shorter time frame. One of these ways is through remote predictive mapping (RPM), an integrated geological approach involving the compilation or re-compilation of existing geological map data and the interpretation of air photos, satellite imagery and airborne geophysical data to produce predictive geological maps.

Although predictive maps do not provide geological truth, they do provide a fairly accurate geological understanding of an area. In turn, they assist geologists by emphasizing natural geological features such as vegetation cover, faults and dykes and consequently aid in traverse planning. RPM has been around for years; however its use alongside geographic information systems (GIS) and digital datasets to produce predictive maps of higher quality is relatively recent.

For the first time the main concepts used in the field are grouped together in one convenient publication. This bilingual glossary is an indispensable resource for any translator tackling the world of geoscientific translation and a handy tool for any specialist writing in the field.

Nathalie Bédard
Director, Terminology Standardization