Geological Map Series of Hungary
The 1:100 000 geological map series of Hungary
The Geological Institute of Hungary decided in 1997 to compile a superficial geological map series of the whole country with uniform legend. Underpinned by traditions of the preceding decades the map sheets were prepared on Gauss-Krüger quadrangles but in the officially adopted EOTR (Uniform National Map System) coordinate system. The compilation of the map series regarded as one of the priority strategic objectives of the Institute was finished in 2005.
Accessible formats and pricelist of map sheets
Location map of the sheets
The short description of the map as is below:
The series can be subdivided on 6 regions:
1. Transdanubian Range (and the hilly area SE of Lake Balaton)
Geological map of the sheet Székesfehérvár
2. North-Hungarian Range
Geological map of the sheet Gönc
3. Geological map series of the Little Hungarian Plain
Geological map of the sheet Zalaegerszeg (Near to original scale)
4. Southern Transdanubia
Geological map of the sheet Nagyatád
5. Geological map series of the Great Hungarian Plain
Geological map of the sheet Dabas
Map sheets of the 1:100 000 geological map series of Hungary
Preparation of the series can be subdivided in the following phases (L. Gyalog, G. Turczi, F. Síkhegyi, T. Budai, Barczikayné R. Szeiler and V. Maigut, 2003):
1. Legend
2. Topography
3. Geological compilation
4. GIS database
5. Map display
Legend
The legend elaborated for the geological maps of the country is based on uniform principles. It is an open system, it can optionally be extended within the frame of uniform concepts. The litho-stratigraphy-based legend assigns the overwhelming majority of pre-Quaternary assemblages in formations (or in members and beds in more detail). Quaternary deposits are essentially classified on genetic basis (beside the age and divided upon lithology). This legend that has continuously been extended and modified since its creation serves also as the basis for the digital database.
2. Topography
The topographic base of the series was provided by the digital maps of the Hungarian Army cut on 1:50 000 Gauss-Krüger sheets in which relief was generated rather than digitised. It caused a couple of problems requiring some corrections. Additionally, some features had been subdued as needed by the 1:100 000 scale and the geological content before the final topographic base was ready.
3. Geological compilation
The compilation started in the Great Hungarian Plain, where the previously prepared 1:100 000 map sheets had already been available. Therefore only some reambulation and readjustment were needed to the new topographic base and legend.
New maps had to be prepared in other parts of the country. We had a rather favourable situation in the Little Hungarian Plain and Southern Transdanubia where 1:100 000 geological maps were also produced by earlier mapping campaigns. Their legend had to be adapted to the new system together with the occasional reinterpretation of pre-Quaternary formations and adjustment to the new sheet- and coordinate system as well as to the topographic base.
Most of the problems were faced in hilly areas, where printed map series on that scale have not yet been produced. To a certain extent the 1:200.000 series published in print in the 1970s can be regarded as a forerunner. Nevertheless, the legend of the new series is quite different and it was also anticipated to display additional knowledge acquired during the recent 30-40 years. Several priority mapping programmes were underway in the country during this period (Bakony, Balaton Highland, Vértes-Gerecse, Velence Hills, Mecsek, Börzsöny, Bükk, and Tokaj Hills). In a certain way it was necessary to adjust their products of different scale (1:10 000, 1:25 000 and 1:50 000), different sheet system, legend and approach to the materials available of the areas where the last mapping took occasionally place not later than the 1930s.
GIS database
The system operates in the MGE SQL Server environment adopted in MÁFI. The GIS database can be subdivided in two main entities:
- thematic key data including the digital line-work together with the relational data tables bearing geological attributes
- cartographically processed line-work and topographic base with relational tables controlling cartographic display
The cartographically processed end product can be derived of the database. Some elements like geological index, legend, frame and colophon can be generated automatically. The delimitation of geological bodies, their generalisation and the final emplacement of texts require the operators continuous intervention.
Initially map sheets were processed individually. Later it became clear, however, that interference in a sheet can affect several adjoining or farther ones. Its administration, tracing was not very easy. It was therefore decided to process the whole series automatically that also enabled parametric regeneration of the database. The technological chain from processing clean line-work and topology (database building) to cartographic representation consists of several, distinctively programmable steps. It was attempted to achieve a one-way process, namely to modify the database first and only then the display.
To keep the database up-to-date means to manage the clean line-work and to maintain the master table including the geological entities and their cartographic attributes. A number of corporate standards have been introduced like the colour set attached to geological entities.
5. Map display
It was not attempted to present the maps in the traditional quality of printed maps. Instead of terminating the mapping of a certain area the sheets exhibit a database-oriented momentary picture on the state of geological mapping in the country. Major tectonic units are therefore perhaps not as clearly manifested as expected from the scale. For faster display geological sections as well as stratigraphic column schemes have not yet been provided. Nevertheless, following the first (single) conclusion of the series reflecting one specific utilisable state it is anticipated to maintain the map sheets and following their regular geological update by 2-3 years to cartographically reprocess them.
Most human intervention is required by final cartographic processing. It is thus one of the most expensive work phases. Consequently, it will be executed only by certain periods. Certainly, at this first publication it was performed on every sheet. This process can be subdivided on two phases: final display before revision and fixing the modifications.
