NEW UTAH HISTORICAL GEOLOGIC DATA RESOURCES – WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHERE TO FIND IT

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) started a Geologic Data Preservation Project in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, inventory, preserve, and manage historical geologic data of value for future use by government agencies, industry, academia, and the public. These data are ideally suited for those involved with land-use planning and management processes; geologic, geotechnical, and environmental investigations; real estate due-diligence activities; mineral exploration; environmental protection; academic research; and teaching.

The UGS developed the Ground Water Monitoring Database and Web Portal (http://geology.utah.gov/databases/groundwater/) to manage and distribute UGS-collected Snake Valley and Wasatch Front area water well and spring flow gage data, which currently consists of over 800,000 readings. To manage our 1935 to 2002 historical aerial photography collection of over 75,000 frames, the UGS developed the Imagery Manager database and Web search application, which allows users to spatially search for frames and download high-quality and high-resolution (600-1200 dpi) digital scans. The database currently has over 16,000 frames entered and searchable. In addition, the UGS developed the Web-based HAZDOCS system that contains public-domain geologic hazard and geotechnical reports, to manage our engineering geology and geologic hazard report collection, along with reports from local government partners. Reports within the system are provided as text-searchable PDF files and are located by spatial and metadata searching methods. This new system will provide a valuable information and data resource to local governments, consultants, and the public by preserving valuable reports for future use that may have very limited distribution, or may be become lost or discarded. The UGS has also scanned over 500 historical geologic maps that will be available from AGRC and our Web site. Historical geologic data will be available Summer 2011 on our new geologic data preservation Web server at http://geoarc.geology.utah.gov.