When the Alberta Research Council (ARC) was established in 1921, its first activity was the mapping of the province's mineral and energy resources and, up to the present, geology has formed an important part of the Council's programs.
The mission of the Alberta Research Council is to advance the economy of the province by: promoting technology development, performing applied research, and providing expert advice, technical information and scientific infrastructure; that is responsive to the needs of the private sector and supports activities in the public sector.
In keeping with this mission the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS), a Department of ARC, took on a leadership role in the Geological Atlas project. An alliance was formed with the other project sponsors: the Alberta Department of Energy, the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and the Geological Survey of Canada, to get the project on the road. An enormous amount of new information had become available since the previous atlas was published in 1964 and it was clear that it would be necessary to make extensive use of the considerable information technology capabilities of ARC to derive maximum benefit from all information available. A feasibility study was undertaken to test some of the data handling and mapping methods, and to obtain an estimate of the resources that would be needed. Perry Glaister, one of the editors of the 1964 geological atlas and John Wheeler, editor of the Canadian portion of the "Decade of North American Geology" helped make the decision to go ahead with the full project. Over the years, the project has had to overcome major challenges in many areas: resources, database management, software development, software compatibility, coordination and communication and many others. Grant Mossop's powers of persuasion, his stamina and his persistence kept the show on the road, while Irina Shetsen provided the data analysis and computing backbone to the project.
The project team, both in the AGS and at the Alberta Department of Energy, worked very hard. Mika Madunicky deserves special mention for the role she played in coordinating liaison with all the various internal and external authors, contributors and others involved in the production of the Atlas volume, and for her hard work and dedication to the project.
The project sponsors gave encouragement and support, and some way or other always managed to find the resources needed to keep the project going. Their trust and patience are very much appreciated.
The project crossed the finish line! I am proud of the achievement of AGS staff, and that of the community of geologists in Western Canada of which they form part. It is an honour to have been able to provide focus and support to the army of people who worked on the Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Together, you have produced a comprehensive document that will be used by every geologist working in Western Canada for many years to come. It permanently records the ideas of many experienced geologists and is a reference volume for industry, government, academia and the public, as well as an historical document - a monumental contribution to geoscience infrastructure.
Brian L. Barge
President
Alberta Research Council
Message from the Alberta Geological Survey
The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin permanently records the ideas of many experienced geologists working in Western Canada. It is a reference volume for industry, government, academia and the public, as well as an historical document - a monumental contribution to geoscience infrastructure.
Ever since its founding in 1921, the Alberta Geological Survey mission has been to support the environmentally responsible industrial development of the province's Alberta's geoscience infrastructure.
Thus, it was right and proper for the AGS to play a leading role earth resources, and their management by government. To achieve its mission, the AGS provides research and survey services, and an important part of in the Geological Atlas project and to make available the talents of its staff and its considerable computing and graphics capabilities. We are proud of the achievement of the community of geologists in Western Canada of which we form part, and of the focus and support we have been able to provide to the army of people who worked on the project. Together, we have produced a comprehensive document that will be used by every geologist working in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin for many years to come.
Perry Glaister and John Wheeler's advice helped us make the decision to proceed from the Phase I feasibility study to Phase II. Grant Mossop's powers of persuasion, stamina and persistence kept the show on the road, while Irina Shetsen provided the data analysis and computing backbone to the project.
The project team, both in the AGS and at the Alberta Department of Energy, worked very hard. Mika Madunicky deserves special mention for the role she played in coordinating liaison with all the various internal and external authors, contributors and others involved in the production of the Atlas volume, and for her hard work and dedication to the project. The project sponsors gave us encouragement and support, and provided considerable financial resources.
I am grateful to all.
Jan A. Boon, Head
Alberta Geological Survey
Alberta Research Council