IN FFOCUS Digital Geologic Mapping for the Commonwealth Warren H. Anderson and Gerald A. Weisenfluh August 2003

The Digital Geologic mandated that the entire United States be tion that relate to the age, composition, mapped geologically. The legislation and structure of mineral features. Mapping Program was reauthorized in 1998. Because of this complexity, the informa- he Digital Geologic Mapping The Kentucky Geological Survey tion cannot be stored in a single data Tprogram (www.uky.edu/KGS/ has used funding from this program to structure. Individual themes must be mapping/mapping.html) has been one of produce 7.5-minute digital geologic created to represent different kinds of the largest and most successful programs quadrangle at a scale of 1:24,000 geologic features in a digital format. of the Kentucky Geological Survey (1 inch=2,000 feet). Geologic features are rendered in vector during the past 7 years. It is providing format to permit variation in scale the foundation of and Program achievements without degrading quality. The geologic the structure for future digital data are supplied in ESRI shapefile and Web-based products and services. It he initial goal was to have format for use in geographic information is a cooperative effort between KGS and Tcomplete digital coverage for the systems. Commercially and publicly the U.S. Geological Survey, as part of entire state by the year 2007. Currently, available software can be used to view the National Cooperative Geologic the program staff are ahead of schedule, or analyze the shapefiles on a personal Mapping Program (ncgmp.usgs.gov). and complete digital coverage is computer. expected by the end of 2004. The program began in the early The availability of the data in GIS 1990’s when Donald Haney, the eleventh When the digital coverage for the format allows the data to be manipulated director of KGS, was instrumental in entire state is completed, Kentucky will and separated into their component securing national legislation that would become the first state in the nation to parts. This is achieved by creating a allow the United States to be mapped achieve this milestone. By the summer database of information that is attached geologically. Of specific interest was a of 2003, more than 650 of the 707 to the digital files. The of provision that allowed states such as quadrangles (7.5-minute, 1:24,000 scale) geologic information are referred to as Kentucky, who were already mapped, to had been digitized. “digitally vectorized geologic quad- convert existing maps into digital rangles.” The DVGQ’s are not a products. The versatility and power of facsimile of the original published paper Public Law 102-285, the “National digital data: DVGQ’s map. Geologic Mapping Act,” was signed into eologic maps are complex; they In the DVGQ’s, which are released law by President Bush in May 1992. It Gcontain various kinds of informa- on CD-ROM, geologic features are CINCINNATI Released MAYSVILLE IRONTON MADISON MAYSVILLE IRONTON Digitized and Compiled MADISON FALMOUTHFALMOUTH In Progress HUNTINGTON LOUISVILLE LEXINGTONLEXINGTON MOREHEADMOREHEAD JASPER LOUISVILLE

WEST WILLIAMSON WEST HARRODSBURGHARRODSBURG IRVINE WILLIAMSON FRANKFORT EVANSVILLE TELLTELL CITYCITY ELIZABETHTOWN FRANKFORT EVANSVILLE

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Areas for which DVGQ’s have been released. This map shows 30 x 60 minute quadrangles. Each 30 x 60 minute quadrangle is compiled from multiple 7.5-minute quadrangles. represented as vector points, lines, or digital raster graphic images, and scale compilation of the 7.5-minute data. areas. Characteristics and descriptions of satellite imagery, can also be used as a These paper maps provide a regional the features are also provided. base for the DVGQ data. The digital perspective of with the fidelity Geologic features stored in a DVGQ geologic data, when combined with of detail of the original 1:24,000-scale database can include: other spatially referenced data, can geologic quadrangle maps. A county create a powerful geologic information series is planned as well; ♦ formation area: the surficial areas of management system. the first maps are being published on a rock units that compose a geologic print-on-demand basis for the central map Information about the DVGQ data sets and a sample data set are available Kentucky area. ♦ formation contacts: the upper and at www.uky.edu/KGS/gis/DVGQ/ The digital data are being used to lower surface boundary of each rock homepage.htm. Information on the make maps for county land-use planning. unit digital geologic maps and other GIS Each map provides a simplified geologic ♦ structural features: structure con- products are available at www.uky.edu/ map of the county and an interpretation tours, erosional surface contours, and KGS/gis/intro.html and www.uky.edu/ of the local geology in nontechnical anticlinal and synclinal axes KGS/mapping/mapping.html. language. The maps include information on how the underlying rock in an area ♦ structural measurements: strike and affects land use (for example, excavation dip measurements for bedding and The value of digital and foundations, on-site wastewater joint surfaces geologic maps treatment systems, residential and ♦ faults: faults, fractures, and fault igital geologic information can be industrial developments, highway and scarps Dused for land-use planning, street development, pond and reservoir ♦ thin beds: rocks units that were too environmental protection, hazards construction, etc.). Photographs of sites thin to digitize as polygons mitigation, and mining activities. Digital in the area are used to illustrate the map data are also valuable for assess- geologic discussion. This derivative map ♦ coal locations: coal outcrop locations ment of coal, mineral, and petroleum product can be used by homeowners, ♦ economic features: arcs of mineral resources; construction and urban developers, and planners. veins and mine outlines development; engineering, planning, and reclamation; and water-supply and ♦ economic locations: noncoal and Future directions waste-disposal studies. economically significant mineral he newly created digital map data at KGS have cooperated outcrops and prospects, mines, Tare being incorporated into a with the Kentucky Transportation quarries, pits, shafts, etc. database of spatial information that will Center at the University of Kentucky be accessible through the Web. An ♦ drillhole locations: locations of and the Kentucky Transportation Internet map server is being used in geologically significant drillholes Cabinet to provide digital geologic conjunction with the database to provide maps for the proposed I-66 highway ♦ intrusive features: dikes and sills easy access to the land-use planning corridor between Somerset and London, ♦ intrusive locations: points of dikes maps. as well as the Glasgow to Bowling and sills Green segment. In 2000 KGS staff used The new maps and derivative map ♦ fossil locations: fossil locations and digital geologic data to assess the products can be viewed using the sample sites remaining near-surface coal resources in Internet map services at kgsweb.uky.edu/ eastern Kentucky for the U.S. Office of arcimsSearch.asp. A tutorial for their use ♦ fossil horizons: fossil layers and is provided. sample transects. Surface Mining. These cooperatively funded projects demonstrate the For information about the Digital As many as 14 different themes that multidisciplinary value of geologic Geologic Mapping program, contact relate to geologic features on the original maps. Warren Anderson at 859.257.5500 ext. geologic quadrangle map make up the 151 or send an e-mail to database, but not all are present for every New geologic maps and [email protected]. For information DVGQ. Of the more than 650 digitized about the DVGQ’s, contact Jerry geologic quadrangle maps, 150 have been derivative map products Weisenfluh at 859.257.5500 ext. 114 or released on CD-ROM as DVGQ’s. he digital geologic data have been send an e-mail to [email protected] Information from other digital Tused to create several new geologic products, such as digital ortho-quarter map series. The first is a 1:100,000- quadrangles, digital elevation models,

Kentucky Geological Survey Visit the KGS online catalog of publications 228 Mining and Mineral Resources Building at www.uky.edu/kgs/pubs/lop.htm Lexington, KY 40506-0107 Public Information Center: 859.257.3896 or Phone: 859.257.5500 1.877.778.7827 (toll free) Fax: 859.257.1147 www.uky.edu/kgs