NEW SEARCH OPTIONS FOR THE INDIANA GEOLOGIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) launched a geologic names Web site in 2009. The Web site and supporting Indiana Geologic Names Information System (IGNIS) were developed by the IGS Geologic Names Committee with assistance from the IGS Information Technology and Photography and Imaging Sections. The primary purpose of the Web site and IGNIS is to make current information about geologic names that are recognized by the IGS available to a broad spectrum of users from academia, industry, government, and the general public.

Currently, the IGNIS links to (1) the Stratigraphic Names Database; (2) a reference database of pertinent literature in which bedrock stratigraphic units have been described; and (3) the IGS Image Database, which contains photographs of Indiana type localities and reference sections, structure and thickness maps, and other figures showing key characteristics of units.

Recent work includes developing a stratigraphic column interface that allows IGNIS Web site users to explore and understand the stratigraphic and geographic relationships of Indiana rock-unit names in ways that were not possible using paper documents. Users can scroll and view the formal names and relationships of stratigraphic units from the Precambrian to the Pennsylvanian, read and download abbreviated descriptions of stratigraphic units, link to more detailed descriptions of units, or view the geographic distribution of units. Future modifications to the Web site will include adding databases and search options to further bridge the gap between technical geoscience information and general geologic information sought by the public Web site users.