QMAP (the Quarter Million Mapping Programme, 1:250 000
scale) is a geological mapping programme which will build a digital geological
database of the whole country and publish maps and books to document it. The
programme was established in 1993, following a recommendation by a review panel
appointed by the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology, and is funded
by the government, from the Public Good Science Fund. The relevance and
fundamental value of QMAP lies in the greatly improved geological knowledge it
will provide for researchers and other end-users of geological
information.

QMAP research involves assessment
of previous work, field and laboratory investigations in key areas, and data
storage, manipulation and publication using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
computer technology. The QMAP digital database of New Zealand geology will be
completed by 2006, as will the series of 21 full colour printed geological maps
and accompanying explanatory texts. Two are already completed and published
(Kaitaia and Dunedin), and six other projects are well advanced.

QMAP information will also be available in
digital form. Next year we hope to expand the scope of the programme to cover
the reconciling and linking of many other earth science databases to QMAP,
because we believe this will create a powerful research tool. The intention is
to develop internet access to the databases, to make the information publicly
available.