Cartographic surveying relies on an iterative methodology of continuous and reciprocal validation between discrete field observations and continuous spatial representations—such as digital stereo and mono photogrammetry, orthomosaics, hillshades, and satellite radar interferometry—derived from Earth Observation (EO) techniques. Today, EO methods offer such high spatial resolution that they may seem to reduce the need for fieldwork. At the same time, advances in high-performance tablets and dedicated software are transforming classical field practices. These digital tools can replace traditional “paper and pencil” methods and allow geologists to consult and analyze EO data directly in the field. This integration enhances the efficiency and responsiveness of the iterative process required for fast and accurate field-based cartography.

Over the past five years, we have mapped approximately 840 km² at a 1:10 000 scale as part of the Geological Atlas of Switzerland. This extensive effort has involved detailed geological, geomorphological, and phenomena mapping across diverse terrains. In this contribution, we present best practices developed through this work to support efficient, accurate, and modern mapping workflows. Our experience shows how the combination of fieldwork, high-resolution EO data, and advanced digital tools results in more reliable cartographic products.

A bedrock map constitutes a conceptual model derived from a synthesis of field and laboratory observations, data extrapolation and interpolation, and conceptual thinking grounded in empirical evidence. Bedrock mapping is therefore inherently dependent on technological and scientific advancements and must be approached as a long-term, continuous process of knowledge accumulation.

The societal demand for bedrock mapping is extensive. Accurate and detailed mapping underpins assessments of mineral resources, construction materials, and groundwater reserves, as well as the geological premisses for infrastructure development, including the construction of subsurface facilities such as, tunnels, nuclear waste repositories, carbon capture storage sites, and facilities for extraction and storage of thermal energy. Furthermore, it provides critical support to disciplines such as, for example, environmental geochemistry, archaeology, forensic science, historical industrial studies, and forestry.

In Sweden, systematic and long-term basic mapping of the bedrock is today, in practice, non-existing and restricted to the location of known mineral deposits and narrow corridors of infrastructure. As a consequence, the bedrock information for large parts of the country is outdated or overly generalized, adversely impacting economic development, technological innovation, and efforts to address climate and environmental challenges. This deficiency is exemplified by three cases: (i) the deceleration of development and increased costs for infrastructure projects within the construction intensive Stockholm region; (ii) difficulties in modelling the build-up of the subsurface bedrock, affecting investment decisions for underground facilities; and (iii) challenges in interpreting analytical results in the absence of an up-to-date field context.

The Leinetal Graben (LTG) is a key element of Germany´s post-Variscan fault network. It is part of the generally NNE-trending fault system running from the Upper Rhine Graben to the eastern border of the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB) and connects NW-SE-striking faults of the LSB with at least one regional fault in the Thuringian Syncline over a distance of some 50 km. This geometry suggests displacement transfer along the LTG. The link to the inverted LSB predicts two main phases of motion on the LTG faults: sinistral transtension during LSB opening (Triassic to Early Cretaceous) and dextral transpression during inversion (Late Cretaceous). Paleostress analysis (Sippel et al. 2008) does not contradict this model but has sparse observations from the LTG. The complicated western border of the LTG may record more strike-slip deformation while the eastern border is dominated by normal faulting. The role of Zechstein salt in the evolution of the LTG is unclear. Evacuation of thick, stratiform salt or collapse of a Triassic salt wall (Tanner et al. 2015) have been proposed, with minimal involvement of the basement. Concentrated brines drilled at about 400 m depth have been interpreted as revealing salt-intruded normal faults. The LTG is typically shown as part of the European Cenozoic Rift System, but may have remained inactive in Cenozoic time. Oligo-Miocene sediments and basalts are only present on the western shoulder but not within the LTG. The present topography of the graben may reflect river incision into soft Keuper and Lower Jurassic strata.

Within a funded project of the UNESCO Global Geopark Vulkaneifel, the Quaternary West Eifel Volcanic Field (WEVF) was comprehensively re-mapped to create a digital geological map. Compared to earlier maps created by von Dechen (1:80,000), Rahm (1:25,000), and Büchel (1:50,000), the new mapping benefits from high-resolution lidar data, enabling the creation of detailed 3D terrain models. This intensive remapping campaign in 2022-2025 has led to an increase in the number of recognized volcanoes, especially of old maars. Notably, three of these maars are filled with basalts, as relicts of lava lakes. Many large scoria cones exhibit an initial maar phase, with their craters filled by scoria, agglutinates, dykes, plugs, and small lava lakes. Most of the scoria cones have produced lava flows. Tuff-ring volcanoes, rich in juvenile clasts, exhibit palagonitization – evidence of intense magma-water interaction. Additionally, a new volcano type has been identified that generated large deposits of phreato-strombolian tephra. Moreover, quarrying has revealed distinct tensile fault systems along the marginal rims of scoria cones with initial maar phases. These extensional fault structures likely collapsed progressively in the transition zone between the initial maar crater and the diatreme, as a result of the growth of the maar-diatreme volcanoes.

Previous work points to the temporary existence of a plateau icefield and numerous cirque glaciers in the northern and central Black Forest, south-west Germany, but the chronology of glaciation remains poorly constrained. This study examines the glacial record at the transition between the central and northern Black Forest. Cirque metrics extraction for palaeoclimatic inferences was undertaken with the ACME2 (Automated Cirque Metrics Extraction) toolbox (Li et al. 2024) for the Esri ArcGIS Desktop software. The strong negative correlation between the longitude of the cirque centroid point and the minimum elevation of the cirques suggests the main supply of moist air masses from the west and orographic effects. Glacio-geomorphological mapping involved both the interpretation of derivatives of a LiDAR (light detection and ranging)-based high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and extensive field surveys. The mapping of moraines largely confirmed earlier work. At the same time, however, revisiting the study region resulted in the identification of a large number of moraines that have not yet been described. Due to their freshness, the ice-marginal moraines in the study region are likely of Late Pleistocene age. To test this assumption, rock samples for beryllium-10 surface exposure dating have been collected from 70 large quartz-rich sandstone boulders on moraines.

This study investigates the geological and mineralogical characteristics of basement rocks in the Xarardheere area, central Mudug Region, Somalia. The region is part of the Precambrian crystalline basement of East Africa, yet remains poorly studied. Through detailed field mapping, petrographic analysis, and mineralogical investigations, the study identifies key lithologies including granitic gneisses, amphibolites, and mica schists. Petrographic observations under polarized light revealed mineral assemblages dominated by quartz, feldspars, biotite, and hornblende, with accessory minerals such as zircon and opaque phases. Textural relationships suggest multiple deformation and metamorphic events, supported by observed foliation, folding, and mineral alignment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis provided further confirmation of mineral phases and detected alteration zones, possibly linked to fluid-rock interactions. The findings contribute valuable data to the understanding of Somalia’s Precambrian basement and offer insights into its tectonometamorphic evolution. This research establishes a foundation for future work in geochronology, structural geology, and mineral resource assessment, particularly in an area with limited previous study. The outcomes hold significance for regional geological correlation and potential applications in mineral exploration and geotechnical development.