Programs and Services

Digital Geologic Mapping and GIS Lab

Resources—Cartography

Submission Requirements for Publication of a Thesis Geologic Map

When practical the Idaho Geological Survey will publish new geology, within the state of Idaho, from a Masters or PhD thesis as a print-on-demand Technical Report. Only maps containing new mapping from a completed thesis will be considered. See below for requirements, guidelines, and general suggestions.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS, GUIDELINES, AND COMMENTS

	Inform the Idaho Geological Survey ahead of time that a thesis map will be submitted for publication. Contact the Survey’s digital mapping lab: stanford@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-7479 and talk with Loudon Stanford or Jane Freed
	The more complete the map and the closer it follows the submission requirements, the sooner the map will be published.
	The Idaho Geological Survey reserves the right to reject a submitted map if it is not complete and if the digital map is not in an acceptable format (see FORMAT below).
	Thesis maps are processed as time allows.
	Keep maps as "tight" as possible. A geologic map is not a poster so keep fonts small and columns narrow (see below for guidelines). Maps will be printed on a plotter. The larger the map the more expensive it is to plot. No maps larger than 3 x 4 feet will be accepted. Leave a 1.25 inch margin on all sides of the map.
	Look at our maps as a guide. They can be found in PDF format at IGS map publications.
	Submit one plate only unless special arrangements have been made.
	Maps and publications published by the Idaho Survey do not have a copyright.
	The mapping data in the thesis map may eventually be used in a digital compilation and added to the Survey’s state-wide geologic map database. In this case all objects from the thesis map used in the compilation will be attributed with a source credit ID which will be linked to a reference lookup table.
	You must include a full citation for the thesis.
	Upon publication each author will receive one copy of the completed map.

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON THE MAP

	Geologic map with basemap (drg or equivalent is fine)
	Correlation chart
	Map unit descriptions
	Full thesis citation
	References
	Credits including funding credit
	Title with Authors, year
	Map symbols
	Cross section(s)
	Charts, tables, photos as necessary

FONTS, COLORS, AND COLUMNS

	Stick with Arial, Helvetica, and New Times Roman.
	Keep font size down. For text in columns, 9 or 10pt is fine.
	Columns should be 3.5" to 4" wide for readability.
	Stick to pastel colors and avoid bright colors except for small units (dikes etc.). Bright or dark colors are hard to look at and can interfere with the basemap. Please use this USGS color chart as a guide when selecting map unit colors.

FORMAT

Map Submission for Publication

	The preferred format for submission is FreeHand or Adobe Illustrator.
	An EPS format may be acceptable if it can be loaded into FreeHand or Illustrator and edited and printed.
	ArcView or ArcMAP can generate an EPS export that can be brought into FreeHand or Illustrator for layout.
	Use previously released IGS map publications as a guide.
	The Idaho Geological Survey reserves the right to reject a submitted map if it is not complete and if the digital map is not in an acceptable format.

GIS Formats

If the thesis map was digitized in a GIS, the Survey would appreciate receiving this data. Acceptable GIS/digital formats include ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcGIS (ArcMap), or AutoCAD. Simple (one page) metadata should be included.