GEOLOGY FOR EVERYONE: GIS MAP PRODUCTS FROM THE KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Continued rural residential and suburban growth may threaten the environment, resources, and natural beauty of an area. Well-planned development requires an understanding of the physical environment in which we live. Taxpayers and homeowners bear the cost of poor development decisions that result from inadequate technical input.

GIS tools and data allow the production a variety of map products quickly and cost-effectively. Recently, KGS completed a series of maps that show in a non-technical way how the rocks beneath our feet shape the land and affect our activities. The maps were designed for homeowners, developers, policy-makers, planners, educators, students, and the general public.

Geologic maps for land-use planning at scales of 1:48,000 or 1:63,360 have been completed for each of Kentucky's 120 counties. The maps highlight geologic limitations on excavation and foundations; suitability for on-site wastewater treatment systems; underground utilities; residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational developments; highway and street development; and pond and reservoir construction. Diagrams and photos of sites in the county are used to illustrate local issues: landslide hazards and slope stability, shrinking and swelling shales, radon, drainage and flooding problems, karst hazards, natural resources, and development pressures. Photos are used to illustrate the underlying rocks and their relationship to the terrain, land use, and economy of an area. Links to additional information for each county are given. The maps are available as PDF files at kgsweb.uky.edu/download/geology/landuse/lumaps.htm.

The Maps-to-Teachers initiative at KGS provides free, laminated county geologic maps to earth science educators across the state. In early 2008, 200 maps had been sent to teachers in 73 counties.

The map, “Geohazards in Kentucky”, summarizes the county map series with photos and diagrams illustrating the geologic hazards in different regions of Kentucky.

The “Kentucky Terrain” map uses photos to show the dominant underlying rocks in each of Kentucky's physiographic regions, the terrain associated with those rocks, and how the rocks create scenic beauty and shape land use, economic and recreational activities.

All map products are available as PDF files on the KGS Web site: www.uky.edu/kgs.