Guidelines for digital geological maps of Pliocene-Holocene composite volcanoes: A contribution from Colombia

Volcanic geological maps provide significant data for volcanic hazard assessment, exploration of mineral-energetic resources, physical volcanology and petrological studies, as well as geophysical models. However, the lack of consensus about the best graphic representation of volcanic geological maps and the most efficient organizational structure of spatial data contained in these maps, has resulted in a variability of representations and data storage. Here we propose some guidelines to unify the representation of composite volcanoes geological maps that may facilitate the communication within a particular country and across political boundaries by reaching a common language. In this paper, we share the advances obtained in Colombia by the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (Colombian Geological Survey), through searching for improved cartographic strategies and efficient representations of mapped volcanogenic units in the North-Andean setting. The main objective of this paper is to provide a guideline for the digital representation of Pliocene-Holocene composite volcanoes geological maps, applicable elsewhere, that displays a comprehensive presentation based on an accurate and qualified geodatabase package. This contribution offers: (i) a catalogue of symbols for the representation of geological and geomorphological elements; (ii) a catalogue of colors and patterns for the representation of the different lithostratigraphic units; (iii) a graphic distribution prototype for the information within the resulting map sheet, and (iv) a geodatabase structure with its corresponding catalogue of objects. With this initiative, we aim to begin an international collaborative effort on reaching a common understanding of best practices in the representation and systematic digital organization of thematic maps of composite volcanoes. •GIS technologies provide invaluable tools to organize and represent geological information.•Structured geographic data simplify analysis and correlation between different composite volcano geological maps.•Standardized conventions (symbology, colors and patterns) allow a common understanding of volcanic geological maps.