The British Geological Survey (BGS) first explored the concept of digital field data
collection in the early 1990’s, with the conclusion that the mobile computing hardware at that
time was not suitable. The development was therefore postponed indefinitely. However a
stakeholder review of onshore geological mapping, including the means of collecting data,
was undertaken in 2001. The review proposed a major change in survey methodology to
include “digital field data capture and desk-top compilation” with “a consistent approach
across all terrains and scales of survey” (Walton and Lee, 2001). These review outcomes
initiated a major new project to update our mapping systems and workflow; the project was
called SIGMA (System for Integrated Geoscience Mapping). One outcome of the new
workflow is an implemented digital field data collection system designed and built in BGS; it
is called BGS·SIGMAmobile. The system has won awards from both ESRI and the AGI (UK
Association for Geographic Information). Using examples from current mapping projects,
this paper briefly outlines the current capabilities of the BGS system, which is available for
free download from the BGS Internet site (as described in more detail below)
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