AER/AGS Special Report 112: Chapter 14: Illinois State Geological
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Chapter 14: Illinois State Geological Survey: Three- Dimensional Geological Mapping and Modelling in Illinois, USA Steven E. Brown, Jason F. Thomason, Richard C. Berg, and Olivier Caron Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, USA Brown, S.E., Thomason, J.F., Berg, R.C., and Caron, O. 2019. Illinois State Geological Survey: three-dimensional geological mapping and modelling in Illinois, USA; Chapter 14 in 2019 Synopsis of Current Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping and Modelling in Geological Survey Organizations, K.E. MacCormack, R.C. Berg, H. Kessler, H.A.J. Russell, and L.H. Thorleifson (ed.), Alberta Energy Regulator / Alberta Geological Survey, AER/AGS Special Report 112, p. 138–158. Introduction changed the ISGS’ institutional geo- ferred to the University of Illinois by logical mapping approach through the state legislative act. The Surveys em- The Illinois State Geological Survey integration of GIS with surface and ploy about 1000 scientific and sup- (ISGS) has engaged in three-dimen- volume modelling. Krumm et al. port staff and are administratively or- sional (3D) geological mapping and (1992) and Riggs et al. (1993) report ganized under what is now called the modelling since the mid 1970s on some of the earliest 3D models of Prairie Research Institute housed on (Bogner, Cartwright, and Kempton surficial deposits. From the mid campus at the University of Illinois at 1976). It grew from the need for sub- 1990s to the present, the ISGS has Urbana-Champaign and at a number surface information in complex gla- undertaken a lithostratigraphic ap- of field offices throughout the state. cial terrain, particularly in the heavily proach to 3D geological mapping and populated Chicago metropolitan re- modelling, with a focus on the Chi- The ISGS, in FY2018, had a State ap- gion. Importantly, the influence of lo- cago metropolitan area counties (e.g., propriation of ~$4.3M, and contrac- cal funding partners, typically coun- Dey, Davis, and Curry 2007). tual expenditures of >$14.8M. It has ties, determined the mapping areas, Changes in technology, both hard and ~170 scientific and support staff that and to some extent the type or style of soft, have migrated the process of di- are divided into nine discipline fo- map product. A more detailed under- gital mapping from those specifically cused sections - Applied Research standing of the subsurface was trained in technology to those trained Laboratory, Coal Bedrock Geology needed to (1) support resource-based in thinking about geology. A more de- and Industrial Minerals, Environmen- land-use planning by decision mak- tailed discussion of the 3D mapping tal Site Assessments, Geochemistry, ers, and (2) directly balance the deli- and modelling history at the ISGS can Geoscience Information Stewardship, cate relationships between groundwa- be found in Berg and Leetaru (2011). Hydrogeology and Geophysics, Petro- ter and mineral resource extraction, leum Geology, Quaternary and Engi- waste disposal, and engineering/con- Organizational Structure neering Geology, and Wetlands Geol- struction considerations with environ- and Business Model ogy. The Applied Research mental concerns (Frye 1967). Laboratory, Coal Bedrock Geology The ISGS initially was founded in the and Industrial Minerals, and Petro- To initially address the above issues, 1850s, but it was not until 1905 that it leum Geology sections are within the “stack-unit maps” were developed became continuously operational with ISGS’ Energy and Minerals group, showing the succession, thickness, dedicated State funding. For more where considerable effort is focused and extent of deposits of the upper 6, than 100 years, the ISGS was a divi- on managing large U.S. Department 15, or 30 meters, (e.g., Kempton, sion within various Illinois State gov- of Energy contracts. Three-dimen- Bogner, and Cartwright 1977; Berg, ernment agencies, lastly being part of sional geological mapping and model- Kempton, and Stecyk 1984), and later the Illinois Department of Natural Re- ling of surficial deposits is conducted the entire glacigenic succession and sources. In 2008, the State Scientific in the Quaternary and Engineering this was supplemented by targeted de- Surveys, which in addition to the Geology Section and the Hydrogeol- rivative maps (e.g., geologic condi- ISGS presently include the Illinois ogy and Geophysics Section, with tions for surface spreading of wastes). State Water Survey, Illinois Natural cartographic and database support The late 1980s experienced the ad- History Survey, Illinois State Archeo- from the Geoscience Information vent of systematic computer mapping logical Survey, and Illinois Sustain- Stewardship Section. Bedrock map- (Krumm et al. 1989) that completely able Technology Center, were trans- ping primarily is conducted in the AER/AGS Special Report 112 • 138 Coal Bedrock Geology and Industrial Overview of 3D pography, thickness of Quaternary Minerals Section, as well as the Pe- Modelling Activities deposits, cumulative sand and troleum Geology Section, the latter of gravel thickness, sand thicknesses which has focus on hydrocarbon and Three-dimensional geological model- at various depth slices, and cross- carbon sequestration reservoir model- ling in Illinois primarily has focused sectional views and geologic inter- ling. on Quaternary glacial and postglacial pretations from the 3D models. sediments. These very complex sedi- • 2000s - There was a partial geo- The ISGS’ 3D geological mapping ments, deposited in various environ- logic model developed for all or and modelling program clearly re- ments, during different times, and parts of five counties – Bureau, flects the overall mission of the insti- with varying degrees of erosion, pro- Marshall, Putnam, Peoria, and tution, dictated by Public Law: “to vide major groundwater and aggre- Woodford - along the middle Illi- provide the citizens and institutions of gate resources, host waste disposal nois River valley in central-north- Illinois with earth science research sites, underpin ecosystems, and pro- ern Illinois (Berg et al. 2002). Pro- and information that are accurate, vide support and environmental con- ducts include maps for surficial objective, and relevant to our State’s ditions for infrastructure. Very de- geology, bedrock topography, drift environmental quality, economic tailed mapping and modelling is thickness, elevation and thickness prosperity, and public safety”, and its required because land-and water-use of a deep glacial aquifer, and aqui- concurrent long-range vision of planning and policy decisions are fer sensitivity. There was signifi- “…upholding the highest standards based on the maps and models. cant funding provided by the Illi- for scientific research, service to our Since the early 1990s, 3D geological nois Department of Transportation, constituents, and professionalism in as this effort was developed as all our activities”. The concepts of modelling of surficial deposits has fo- cused on three regions – east-central part of a transportation planning both engineering geology, that emer- endeavor. Also during this decade, ged in the 1940s, and environmental Illinois and the Mahomet aquifer, middle Illinois River valley, and the the Great Lakes Geologic Map- geology, that emerged in the 1960s, ping Coalition (GLGMC) was were first conceived by ISGS geolo- northeastern Illinois Chicago metro- politan region. formed specifically to address a gists driven by the need to address national shortfall in funding for • 1990s - The first published re- critical societal issues with relevant, 3D geologic mapping within the gional geologic model of any sur- accurate, detailed, unbiased, and nation’s central economic hub. ficial deposit was done in the early timely geological information. It is • 2010s - The first comprehensive within this context that our current and mid 1990s and published in 1999 by Soller et al. It portrays the county-wide 3D model in north- 3D mapping and modelling efforts eastern Illinois was completed for have evolved and are presently fo- Quaternary geology in a 15-county region that overlies the Mahomet Kane County west of Chicago cused. The three case study examples (Abert et al. 2007) (Figure 2). Sig- below “tackle” the deciphering of the Bedrock Valley in east-central Illi- nois. Three atlas sheets offer mul- nificant county funds supple- very complex glacial deposits of mented the effort as there was con- northeastern Illinois in three of Illi- tiple 3D perspectives of the bed- rock valley that contains a thick cern regarding population growth nois’ “collar” counties surrounding and competing water resource Chicago, all of which are experienc- sand and gravel, known as the Ma- homet aquifer (Figure 1). This re- needs among their more than 30 ing rapidly increasing urbanization. It municipalities. This modelling re- is here where critical decisions re- gional aquifer is now designated by the U.S. Environmental Protec- sultedinmapsofLiDARderived garding water and land use, as well as surface topography, bedrock geol- aggregate extraction, are needed, but tion Agency as a Sole Source Aquifer. Also in the early 1990s, ogy, major Quaternary aquifers, answers to planning scenarios are aquifer sensitivity, and numerous complicated by the desire for ecosys- the ISGS’ County Assistance Pro- gram with funding by the Illinois geologic cross sections. This was tem health, open-space scenarios, and followed by 3D hydrogeological