EVOLUTION OF GEOLOGIC MAPPING DATA STANDARDS AND COLLECTION TECHNIQUES AT THE KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Since 2004, geologic mapping activity at the Kentucky Geological Survey has been primarily focused on mapping the surficial geology of Kentucky with an emphasis on western Kentucky, northern Kentucky, and the Louisville area. This follows a completed 10-year effort (1996–2006) by KGS to digitize all 707 U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps (DVGQ program). During the DVGQ program, an internal KGS standard for data capture, feature attribution, and a database scheme for supporting data was established, which was then adopted by the surficial geologic mapping program in 2004. Over time, modifications to these standards were necessarily made by the surficial geologic mappers, and KGS also wanted to fully adopt the standards (NCGMPO9) set forth by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. These standards include a highly vetted and robust data management system for digital data that, when implemented, will allow for much easier data transfer across state lines. Some beneficial key components of NCGMPO9 include existence, identity, and location confidence parameters collected by field mappers, along with the compilation of data source information. In complying with the new standards, geodatabase design parameters (such as drop-down menus) were implemented, which will facilitate ease of use for the field mappers.

KGS uses an enterprise database to store the digital mapping data. Field mappers are required to enter and maintain their data in this database, and several tools have been developed to facilitate data entry. One tool, which was developed early in the surficial mapping program, is a web-based data entry tool, which is intended to be used at a desktop computer to enter field data, notes, and photos. Recently, KGS has started using the ESRI Collector for ArcGIS application to streamline field data collection. This application allows mappers to collect data in the field with a device from which the data can then be automatically loaded into the enterprise database. Use of this application was developed along with adoption of the NCGMP09 standards, which has provided standard fields and parameters.