EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND GIS DATA FOR THE GEOLOGY OF THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST, EASTERN KENTUCKY

The Daniel Boone National Forest in Eastern Kentucky is located along the Cumberland Plateau on the western flank of the Appalachian basin in eastern Kentucky. The forest encompasses more than 700,000 acres, and is famous for its scenic cliffs, waterfalls, and natural arches. Many of the scenic geology features are located along the Pottsville Escarpment; a physiographic feature formed along the exposure of cliff-forming Lower Pennsylvanian conglomeratic sandstones. Pennsylvanian strata unconformably truncate Mississippian carbonates and shales updip and northward along the escarpment. Westward, and downdip, the forest is dominated by coal-bearing strata of the Breathitt Group. To help the public better understand the scenic geology of the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) provides (1) a regional cross section of the forest with photographs and measured sections, (2) virtual field trips of Natural Bridge and Cumberland Falls State Parks, which are in the forest area, and (3) PDF files of past geological field trips in the forest.

In addition, Kentucky’s geology has been completely digitized at a scale of 1:24,000, which facilitates compilation, analysis, and delivery of diverse types of geologic information in a GIS. Using the digital geology, KGS has developed a Web site that allows highly customized maps to be created, including access to related online information, including hydrologic data, oil and gas data, coal data, geotechnical data, photographs, illustrations, and other geologic descriptions. Geospatial technology requires GIS practices that convey how these landscapes develop and can be managed. The connection between bedrock geology and other related information, such as surface streams, elevation, vegetation, slope, aspect, well data, and cultural features provides a platform for viewing geospatial relationships. Analyzing these relationships in a GIS provides a tool for better land management, decision-making, education, and understanding of the forest’s natural resources.