About: KGS Geologic Map Information Service

The primary features available on the map application are geologic map layers which include features that were mapped at 1:24,000-scale (1 in = 2000 ft) across the entire state. These features are mapped geologic units (polygons), geologic contacts (lines), geologic faults (lines), structural contours (lines), and geologic beds (lines) that can be viewed at any scale on this map service. You can symbolize the geologic unit polygons by mapped stratigraphic geologic unit, dominant lithology for each unit, karst potential that was determined for each unit, or by major geologic ages of the detailed geologic units. These 1:24,000-scale geologic features were digitized from the 707 published USGS 1:24,000-scale geologic quadrangle maps of Kentucky. A history of this digital mapping effort can be found here. A compilation of the digitally scanned published USGS quadrangles can also be viewed as a raster layer on this map service.

This application also includes 1:500,000-scale geologic map units which were digitized from the 1988 Geologic Map of Kentucky (Noger). Similar to the 1:24,000-scale geologic units, these units can be symbolized by stratigraphic unit, dominant lithology, or karst potential.

When the stratigraphic or dominant lithology geologic units are turned on, the Geologic Map Legend (open from the main menu or Layers tool)displays the name and color for the unit. The legend is interactive, and if you double-click the color for a unit, that unit will be highlighted on the map (in the viewed extent). Depending on the display scale and number of features, the highlight will either be the outline of each polygon or simply the centroid of each polygon:

If too many features are returned to be mapped, a popup will notify you to zoom-in on the map to reduce the extent.

Along with the geologic map GIS features, KGS digitally captured the descriptive text of each geologic unit for both the 1:24,000-scale and 1:500,000-scale geologic features. When the geologic units are turned on, the click-map ID tool highlights the unit on the map, and a dialog displays the metadata about each unit, links to the relevant published sources for the map data, and the description for the digital geologic unit (including links to the source material for the description):

A variety of other geologic-related data layers are also available on the map service. Many of these data layers are KGS-acquired and stored data and are provided here as a "one stop shop" for viewing KGS data in a geographic context with each other and the geologic map layers. These map layers include Kentucky oil and gas wells (and related oil and gas data), water wells and springs from the KGS Groundwater Data Repository, various type of coal data, hazards data including the KGS landslide inventory and mapped sinkholes, rock core and sample holdings at the KGS EARL, minerals information, geologic photos, and natural features. Also available are various index maps, KY milepoints for roads and streams, and GIS data for KY state parks and trails.

All the map layers, including the geologic map layers described above can be turned on and off in the Layers menu. Layers are grouped by type and you can turn either the group or individual layer on and off by clicking the "eye" icon next to each group or layer name. You can also control the opacity of each layer and view the legend for each layer by clicking the menu on the right-side of each layer name:

You can select from a list of numerous ESRI-hosted basemaps to display as the map background, and the default basemap is the "Gray" option with the KYFromAbove Topographic Map Series turned on. At the bottom of the layer list are a number of Kentucky-specific basemap layers, primarily acquired and hosted through the KYFromAbove initative. These layers include high-resolution aerial photography, LiDAR-based topography, and USGS topographic maps. When these layers are turned on, they will overlay on top of the ESRI basemap (and obscure with the default 0% opacity):

Layer Transparency: Next to each layer and layer group, you can now use a slider to change the transparency of individual layers or groups of layers. Simply click the slider icon next to the layer or group name and the layer transparency slider will appear. Use your mouse or finger to change the transparency percentage:

Layer Transparency Tool: Next to each layer and layer group, you can now use a slider to change the transparency of individual layers or groups of layers. Simply click the slider icon next to the layer or group name and the layer transparency slider will appear. Use your mouse or finger to change the transparency percentage:

The "Tools" menu and map interface both have several map tools for measuring, coordinate conversion, and identifying features:

ID features:
To identify features on the map, simply click the map to display the identification popup. Layers that are turned on in the layer list are identified in the ID tool. Scroll through multiple features by click the page toggle in the lower right of the popup (red markup area). The feature that is identified on a page is also highlighted on the map:

The geologic map polygon features (geologic unit, lithology, karst) have an additional toggle to "View Geologic Description" for viewing the full description from the KGS database of the identified geologic unit. The popup pane can also be "docked" to the right-side of the map by toggling the page size icon in the pane. Undock by clicking the same icon.

In the "Tools" pane, use the "Area Identify" tool to identify KGS-database point features in the selected area. Simply activate the tool by clicking the button, and then draw a rectangle on the map. Once completed, a new window displays with point features in the area (along with location information for the center of the selected area). The area selected must be relatively small (less than approximately 10 KM in map unit width - an alert displays if the area is too large). The features returned include Kentucky water wells and springs, Kentucky oil and gas wells, KGS core holdings, Kentucky coal borehole and thickness points, Kentucky geologic points of interest, Kentucky arch locations, and photos in the KGS database. More features may be added in the future. Features are returned whether they are turned on in the layer list or not:

Measurement:
In the "Tools" pane, there are 2 tools for measuring either line distance or areas on the map. Click either tool to activate. Then click on the map to start drawing either a line or shape. Double-click to stop drawing and get a measurement. The measurement appears in widget at the lower-right of the map, and the units can be changed for the measured shape by selecting the "Unit" pull-down. Click "New Measurement" to restart the process.

Coordinate Identify/Conversion:
Click the Coordinate ID/Conversion tool to activate the Coordinate widget at the lower-right of the map. Simply mouse over the map to see the coordinates at the cursor location. Use the "capture" function on the widget to ID coordinates at a point. Use the "Input coordinate" function to enter a coordinate into the widget and either Convert the location to a selected coordinate and/or zoom to that location on the map. Any coordinate in the widget can be converted to another coordinate.

For quick ID of coordinates, simply click the map (as you would to ID features) and the coordinates for that point are displayed in the ID window (as the last identification feature in the window - if one or more features are identified).