The book contains private views of experts from various countries on the role of geological mapping in sustainable development. New technologies and concepts are presented, which are either awaiting for recognition by Geological Surveys, or are gradually applied in some survey. The target of the book is well worded in the "Summary and recommendations" elaborated by the Ad Hoc Committee at the Advanced Research Workshop on Innovative Geological Cartography, held under NATO sponsorship in Poland in November 2003. After the "Summaries" were issued by the end of 2003, the authors who presented their views at the Workshop, gave a revised version of their papers with more new ideas and material. Generally, the book is addressed to cartographers in Geological Surveys, geologists and geographers co-operating with landuse planners, ecologists and decision makers, who may learn about the state-of-the-art and the enormous information potential of the modern information technologies in Geosciences. The book, however, gives no methodological recipes but, as it was the authors' intention, may and shall be used as a guide-book in modernizing Information Technologies at the local, regional and national levels in Geosciences.

Inhalt
The New Digital Geological Map of Europe and Standardisation: Consistency as the Last Refuge of the Unimaginative?!.- Why Should We Worry about Standards for Digital Geological Maps?.- Geological Map of the Future: Digital, Interactive, and Three-Dimensional.- The Role of Engineering Geology in Standardization of Innovative Geological Mapping.- Can Geological Surveys Have Their Own Standards? Ome Personal Remarks from Inside the Geological Survey of Brandenburg, Germany.- The Future of Geoscience in the 21st Century: Art, Science, or Resource?.- Addressing the Real Needs of All the Users of Geological Information: The Opportunities, Issues and Problems.- The Concept of New Generation Geological Maps.- New Base-Map for Geological Mapping - The DEM.- Societal and Economic Benefits of Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping for Environmental Protection at Multiple Scales: An Overview Perspective from Illinois, USA.- Geology and Environment Between Canossa and Quattro Castella: An Innovative Geological Map for the General Public.- Urban Geology: Integrating Surface and Sub-Surface Geoscientific Information for Development Needs.- Integrated Approach and Application of Gis for Management of Geological Data.- Remote Sensing in Geological Mapping.- Neogeodynamics Phenomena Investigation and Computerized Mapping in Belarus.- Digital Geological Base Map of Estonia (1:50 000): Aims and Prospects of Realization.- Peculiarities of Fault Tectonics in Belarus: Investigations and Mapping.- Use of Old Data for Innovative Mapping Techniques in Geothermal Exploration.- Geomapping in Ukraine: State of the Art, Achievements and Prospects.- Mapping of Natural Hazards and Its Applications in Korea.- Three-Dimensional Geological Maps.- Application of SAR Imagery and SAR Interferometry in DigitalGeological Cartography.- The U.S. National Geologic Map Database Project: Overview & Progress.