Standardization of mapping practices in the British Geological Survey

Because the British Geological Survey (BGS) has had, since its foundation in 1835, a mandate to produce geological maps for the whole of Great Britain, there is a long history of introducing standard practices in the way rocks and rock units have been named, classified and illustrated on maps. The reasons for the failure of some of-these practices are examined and assessed in relation to the needs of computerized systems for holding and disseminating geological information. (C) 1997 NERC Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.