HOW WILL GEOLOGIC MAPS BE USED IN THE FUTURE?

The Kentucky Geological Survey, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, reached two significant milestones in geologic mapping: the first was complete 1:24,000-scale geologic mapping of the state from 1960 to 1978; the second was the conversion of the paper geologic maps to digital GIS datasets from 1996 to 2006. This resulted in a seamless digital geologic map of Kentucky, GIS datasets for each quadrangle, and Web services to provide a rich environment for synthesizing all geologic data in a common interface. Kentucky’s geologic maps have been extensively used in the years between the time of only paper maps until the creation of digital geologic maps by a wide variety of constituencies including geologists, engineers, planners, and developers. The economic return on original investment has been demonstrated by the hundreds of thousands of paper maps sold and a public benefit valued at 39 times the cost of the mapping.

The problems that are addressed by geologic maps such as water, waste disposal, foundations, resources, and geologic hazards have not changed since this modern mapping began in 1960. The geologists of the 1960s could not have anticipated the GIS, GPS, Web-based, cellular communications, and wireless computing of today. The advent of digital formats and all the possibilities they have created for new visualizations, dissemination, and computer programs raise questions about how geologic maps will be used in the future. What will the returns on future investments be to create these new products? The scores of daily online users of Kentucky geologic maps suggest a very robust future, but what programs and tools will serve our constituencies best and keep pace with the rapidly evolving computing and communications worlds?