Geology topics

J.M. McNellis

Publications and source records attributed to J.M. McNellis.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2006

Digital computer methods for water‐quality data

The digital computer is used on a routine basis in the ground-water program in Kansas for tasks ranging from the listing of water-quality data in tabular and publishable form to statistically and graphically analyzing a mass of data. In the past year a number of computer programs in FORTRAN IV have been developed by Charles O. Morgan and Jesse M. McNellis using an IBM-7040 computer to store, retrieve, and manipulate water-quality data. These programs: (1) Tabulate data at the rate of 40 chemical analyses of water per minute in a format similar to that found in the Kansas ground-water publications. (2) Perform necessary calculations and print Stiff diagrams at the rate of 30 per minute. (3) Perform necessary calculations and print Piper diagrams, including a square modification of the normally diamond-shaped cation-anion diagram, and trilinear diagrams of the cations and anions. The symbol representing the analyses located on the diagrams can be designated by either an analysis number or a geologic unit number. A cation-anion diagram showing the average chemical composition of water for an aquifer can also be printed. These diagrams for 50 analyses can be produced in 1.5 minutes. (4) Plot maps of 42 individual, combined, or calculated parameters obtained from the data cards. These maps can be plotted to any specified scale and for as many as 10 designated geologic units. Computer time involved for one map with 50 plotted points is 15 seconds. It is estimated that the use of these programs will save several man-months during a ground-water study, and the error inherent in the manual manipulation of data is greatly reduced. The present cost for running 50 analyses through the four water-quality programs on the computer is approximately $20.

Groundwater↗

USGS1989

Functional requirements of computer systems for the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, 1988-97

Investigating the occurrence, quantity, quality, distribution, and movement of the Nation 's water resources is the principal mission of the U.S. Geological Survey 's Water Resources Division. Reports of these investigations are published and available to the public. To accomplish this mission, the Division requires substantial computer technology to process, store, and analyze data from more than 57,000 hydrologic sites. The Division 's computer resources are organized through the Distributed Information System Program Office that manages the nationwide network of computers. The contract that provides the major computer components for the Water Resources Division 's Distributed information System expires in 1991. Five work groups were organized to collect the information needed to procure a new generation of computer systems for the U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. Each group was assigned a major Division activity and asked to describe its functional requirements of computer systems for the next decade. The work groups and major activities are: (1) hydrologic information; (2) hydrologic applications; (3) geographic information systems; (4) reports and electronic publishing; and (5) administrative. The work groups identified 42 functions and described their functional requirements for 1988, 1992, and 1997. A few new functions such as Decision Support Systems and Executive Information Systems, were identified, but most are the same as performed today. Although the number of functions will remain about the same, steady growth in the size, complexity, and frequency of many functions is predicted for the next decade. No compensating increase in the Division 's staff is anticipated during this period. To handle the increased workload and perform these functions, new approaches will be developed that use advanced computer technology. The advanced technology is required in a unified, tightly coupled system that will support all functions simultaneously. The new approaches and expanded use of computers will require substantial increases in the quantity and sophistication of the Division 's computer resources. The requirements presented in this report will be used to develop technical specifications that describe the computer resources needed during the 1990's. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1971

Reduction of lithologic-log data to numbers for use in the digital computer

The development of a standardized system for conveniently coding lithologic-log data for use in the digital computer has long been needed. The technique suggested involves a reduction of the original written alphanumeric log to a numeric log by use of computer programs. This numeric log can then be retrieved as a written log, interrogated for pertinent information, or analyzed statistically.

Journal of the International Association for Mathe↗