Chapter 10: Qualitative Assessment of Value of Geological Maps by Stakeholders

Abstract

Geological maps offer a wide array of uses that benefit stakeholders in ways that can be difficult to quantify. Therefore, stakeholders were asked in text format to describe how maps benefit their industry or organization. About 58.4% of respondents (2,689 out of 4,599) provided explanations of what benefits they received from map use. Benefits of map use were described by respondents working in various fields from their own perspectives. Several commonalities emerged from the responses that included the following: (1) providing regional context to project area; (2) identifying and exploring for resources; (3) helping with regulatory compliance; (4) identifying hazards; (5) enhancing accuracy of decisions; (6) lending credibility to work; (7) communicating effectively; (8) educating students and officials; and (9) saving time and money.

10.1: Stakeholder Qualitative Responses

Geological maps offer a wide array of uses that benefit stakeholders in ways that can be difficult to quantify. Therefore, stakeholders were asked to describe how maps benefit their industry or organization (question 6). About 58.4% of respondents (2,689 out of 4,599) provided explanations of what benefits they received from map use. Many respondents work in multiple industries. As a result of their diverse activities, the actual number of responses was 5,215. A simplified list of search words or phrases provided an overview of the responses received and the industries that benefited from map use (Figure 10.1.1). Time saving is the single largest benefit that was cited. By inference, it can be concluded that cost savings are also a major benefit. This conclusion was reinforced in Chapter 6, which describes actual estimates by respondents of time and cost savings (in the previous five years the median value was 20% for time savings and 15% in cost savings) attributable to the availability of publicly financed geological maps prepared by State Geological Surveys (SGS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Benefits in conducting environmental work are cited by an almost equal number of respondents. A detailed reading of a sample of about 200 responses provided better insight into how geological maps benefit users, as summarized below:

• Identify resources.
• Provide regional geological context.
• Aid construction safety.
• Save time.
• Save cost.
• Aid grant writing.
• Assist exploration planning.
• Help regulatory compliance.
• Hazard identification.
• Aquifer recharge planning.
• Assist environmental work.
• Communication with the public.
• Educate students.

Figure 10.1.1

How do geological maps benefit your organization/industry

A criterion for assessing the quality of the geological maps produced by SGS and the USGS is the stakeholder trust in these publicly funded independent institutions, and if use of their maps helps improve the quality/accuracy of their decisions (question 19). Close to 89% of respondents reported a “notable” or “extreme” improvement in the quality of their decisions if they use maps from SGS and the USGS (Figure 10.1.2).

Figure 10.1.2

How maps from SGS and USGS improve work quality/accuracy of users.

Figure 10.1.3 shows the application areas in which geological maps help improve the quality/accuracy of decisions. A closer reading of responses in each of the categories in Figure 10.1.3 provides greater insight. The following bullet points, based on extensive reading of specific responses, summarize comments within several broad topical areas as shown on Table 10.1.1.

Figure 10.1.3

How do geologic maps improve the quality/accuracy of decisions.

The quality and accuracy of the work by map users/stakeholders are vitally important. Commonly, however, as in courts of law and compliance issues, the work submitted by project managers must appear credible. The independent geological expertise of public institutions substantiates the credibility of the work of the users (question 20). Stakeholders were asked to respond to the credibility aspect by selecting one of the four descriptions provided to them and explain their choices. Figure 10.1.4a is a breakdown of 1,616 narrative responses, whereas Figure 10.1.4b is a breakdown of all responses regardless of whether they provided a narrative about their choices. Out of the 2,484 respondents, 82.6% reported that the credibility of their work was “notably” or “extremely” substantiated through use of SGS and USGS geological maps.

Figure 10.1.4a

Substantiation of credibility of work (Breakdown of narratives).

Figure 10.1.4b

Substantiation of credibility of work (Breakdown of all responses).

To further explain how credibility of stakeholder work benefits from the use of geological maps prepared by SGS and the USGS, 1,616 respondents provided comments. Table 10.1.1 shows a representative sample of responses.

Asked to describe “how” quality and accuracy of their work is influenced by the availability of geological maps, stakeholder responses were very diverse and difficult to analyze electronically. Individual responses had to be read and manually summarized. A total of 2,302 narrative responses to question 21 were provided regarding how the quality of their projects have been affected. Individual reading of the narratives provided a better sense of stakeholder views. Stakeholders described their experiences in many ways depending upon the nature of their project. However, the dominant and recurring descriptions could be summarized as follows:

Without regard to the sector, nature, and size of projects, the project sponsors are unable and/or unwilling to support the research needed to place the geology of the project area in the context of the regional geology for financial as well as time reasons. The contextualization of local geology with regional geology is critical for high-quality project planning and execution. It is therefore crucial to be able to rely on the quality of the regional geological information. The mission of publicly funded agencies is to create quality geological maps. They employ expert geologists who produce the maps and revise them over time as newer knowledge and/or technologies become available. High quality project planning needs the maps generated by them.

Qualitative assessments of geological maps may vary depending on who is using the maps and to which business or organization they belong. Stakeholders were asked for their assessment regarding the value of the geological maps produced by the publicly funded institutions for 20 different public and private entities and industries on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest rating (question 22). These are assessments by the stakeholders for institutions and organizations for which they are not necessarily working. For all entities, the stakeholder assessments of the value of geological maps are in the upper half of the rating scale, between 3.3 and 4.5. (Figure 10.1.6)

Figure 10.1.5

How project quality is affected when maps are not available (Responses by sector).

Figure 10.1.6

Value of maps for various public and private entities in the judgment of responders on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest perceived value.

Table 10.1.1.

Summary of the qualitative narrative assessments of benefits of maps by stakeholders.

Question 6: How do geologic maps and information benefit your organization or industry?

Question 19B: How do geologic maps and the accompanying reports obtained from public institutions improve the quality and accuracy of your decisions?

Question 20: How does map use substantiate credibility of your work?

Question 21: Give an example of how the quality of your project is affected when geological mapping is not available.

Question 22: Value of maps for various public and private entities in the judgment of responders. (Scale of 1: low — 5: high)