COAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES--COMMUNICATING RESULTS TO THE PUBLIC

Traditional coal resource estimates have been conducted periodically in Kentucky for more than a century. The estimated coal tonnages have been tabulated for geographic regions in categories of thickness, overburden, and certainty. More recently, the Kentucky Geological Survey has undertaken detailed studies of coal availability that take into account the effects competing land uses and technological restrictions to mining have on the remaining resource. Differences in the availability of data and methods of analyzing them have resulted in both increases and decreases from previous estimates. Moreover, the audience for this information varies from policy makers and financial officials to industry representatives and students. These factors make it especially difficult to communicate the results of coal resource studies in a way that benefits each audience.

In order to give those interested the most recent information regarding coal resource estimates, the Kentucky Geological Survey is preparing an interactive CD-ROM that will summarize many aspects of the state's coal resources. The CD-ROM will be divided into three sections. Basic information on coal, and its formation, properties, uses, and extraction methods will be provided in the opening section for those unfamiliar with these concepts. A second section on Kentucky coal will discuss production history and the stratigraphy and structure of both Kentucky coal fields. The third section will present more technical results of assessments in the form of maps, in addition to the traditional tonnage estimates, in order to better communicate the distribution of remaining resources. Using the CD-ROM media (and associated Web technologies) offers much greater potential for communication of complex concepts than using traditional paper publications.