WEB-BASED GIS APPLICATIONS FOR VISUALIZING GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC DATA IN KENTUCKY

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) has developed several Web-based GIS applications that allow users to display and search for map-related geologic and hydrologic data on the Internet. These services include the Kentucky Geologic Map Information Service and the Kentucky Groundwater Quality Map Service, which were both developed with the ESRI ArcGIS Server Javascript API.

The Geologic Map Information Service is a one-stop location to view and explore Kentucky geologic map and related data (geologic outcrop locations, photos, and diagrams), water well and spring data, and oil and gas well data. This service enables the user to display the 1:500,000-scale geologic map of Kentucky at scales smaller than 1:100,000, and 1:24,000-scale geologic quadrangle data at larger scales. The 1:500,000-scale geologic map data were derived from the 1988 “Geologic Map of Kentucky.” The 1:24,000-scale geologic map data and the fault data were compiled from 707 U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps, which were digitized during the KGS Digital Mapping Program (1996 - 2006).

Some features of the map service include:

- Detailed legend of map units which are displayed in stratigraphic order with the name and age of the formation. The legend is also updated for the currently viewed area and scale.

- A query tool that allows users to search the KGS database of lithologic descriptions, most of which are derived from the 1:24,000 –scale geologic quadrangle maps. Once a search is completed, each returned unit is highlighted on the map.

- Identification tools that allow users to identify detailed information on geologic units and other map features.

The Groundwater-Quality Map Service was developed to help users visualize the map distribution of groundwater-quality sample measurements stored in the Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, and view water wells and springs in Kentucky. Users can create chloropleth maps of selected groundwater analytes where the distribution of analyte values are displayed on the map with graduated symbols. The range used for the symbol sizes or colors are determined by the range of returned analyte values. When a chloropleth map is created, users are given a legend displaying the symbol types and their associated range of values. The resultant map can be printed or converted into a PDF document.