Transferring maps and data from pre-digital era theses to Google Earth: A case study from the Vredefort Dome, South Africa

Geoscientific legacy data from pre-digital-era theses, often containing maps, cross sections, and field notes, can be effectively digitized and integrated into modern visualization tools like Google Earth. This study demonstrates how a 1970s thesis on the Vredefort Rim Synclinorium in South Africa was converted to digital format using KML for mapping and COLLADA models for stereographic projections and virtual specimens. The process not only preserved historical research but also corrected geo-location errors from pre-GPS methods, enhancing accuracy and accessibility. This approach offers a template for digitizing and leveraging archival geoscience data in contemporary research and education.

Simpson, C., De Paor, D. G., Beebe, M. R., & Strand, J. M. (2012). Transferring maps and data from pre-digital era theses to Google Earth: A case study from the Vredefort Dome, South Africa. Google Earth and Virtual Visualizations in Geoscience Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1130/2012.2492(13)