Geologic Resources Inventory

Needles formations at Chesler Park, Canyonlands National Park

NPS/Emily Ogden

The Geologic Resource Inventory (GRI) is working to provide over 270 parks with digital geologic map data and associated detailed reports. These products provide valuable information about geologic formations, hazards, and the connections among geology, history, and other natural resources. The resulting maps and reports are available from the GRI publications page and also from the IRMA Data Store.

Digital geologic maps reproduce all aspects of traditional paper maps, including notes, legend, and cross sections. They allow geologic information to be easily viewed or analyzed in conjunction with a wide range of other resource management information in park geographic information systems (GIS).

After the geologic map is completed, a geologic report is prepared, which contain five major sections:

• Identification and description of key geologic resource management issues;
• Discussion of geologic features and processes important to park ecosystems and management;
• A map unit properties table that identifies characteristics of geologic map units;
• A brief geologic history of the park area; and
• An overview of the digital geologic map data.