Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Geological Mapping in the United States of America from 1994 to 2019
This report provides the first economic analysis of geological mapping conducted for the entire United States. Globally, this is the largest and most comprehensive jurisdictional economic assessment for geological mapping ever conducted. It is timely given substantial investment by the federal government in geological mapping since the early 1990s, with significantly enhanced funding since 2019. An important question is the degree to which this public investment has yielded tangible results. Four different approaches were employed to analyze the costs, benefits, and economic impacts of geological mapping, and all consistently demonstrated large returns on investment and significant societal benefits.
Berg, R. C., & Faulds, J. E. (Eds.). (2025). Economic analysis of the costs and benefits of geological mapping in the United States of America from 1994 to 2019. American Geosciences Institute. https://doi.org/10.62322/wra5.gs9v
Highlight Infographics
These visuals reference different chapters from the Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Geological Mapping in the United States of America from 1994 to 2019 report and synthesize key insights for a broader public audience. By transforming complex economic and geological data into accessible, visually engaging designs, these infographics highlight the critical role of geological mapping in today’s world. Each design distills essential findings, making the information more approachable for researchers, professionals, and the general public alike.
For questions or comments about the infographics, please contact Christopher Keane at keane@americangeosciences.org. Infographics designed by AGI Digital Media Specialist Maliya Malik.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- Executive Summary
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Study Objectives and Methodology
- Chapter 3: Stakeholder Assessment of Map Producing Agencies
- Chapter 4: Cost for Geological Mapping
- Chapter 5: Geological Mapping Program Activities — Critical Components
- Chapter 6: Benefits of Geological Mapping: Quantitative Assessment of Responses to Stakeholder Questionnaire
- Chapter 7: Geological Map Demand and Economic Estimates of Costs and Benefits
- Chapter 8: Regional Variations in Costs and Benefits of Geological Mapping
- Chapter 9: Quantitative Value Assessment from Independent EPA Data
- Chapter 10: Qualitative Assessment of Value of Geological Maps by Stakeholders
- Chapter 11: An Economic Model of General Geological Mapping Applications
- Chapter 12: Stakeholder Input about Future Geological Mapping
- Chapter 13: Lessons Learned and Suggestions for Future Analyses
- Chapter 14: Summary and Conclusions
- Appendix 1: Cost Sheet Template
- Appendix 2: Questionnaire to Stakeholders
- Appendix 3: Example Solication Letter Requesting Stakeholders to Participate in National Cost-Benefit Assessment
- Appendix 4: Summary Statistics, Outliers, and Confidence Intervals
- Appendix 5: Annual State Geological Survey Map Views
- Appendix 6: Regional Cost-Benefit Analysis Datasets
- Appendix 6a: Questionnaire Data Schema
- Appendix 6b: State Geological Survey Reporting Schema
- Appendix 7: Chapter 8 Supplemental Figures and Tables