1. West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Geographic Information Systems
at the
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Presented by
John M. Bocan
Introduction:
Name,
GIS Programmer/Analyst,
WVGES
June 8, 2010 1

2. The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey has the objective of…
“The preparation of special reports, with necessary illustrations and maps, which shall embrace both a general and detailed description of the geology and natural resources of the state...”
- WV Code, § (d)
1897
since
Since it's inception by leg-is-la-tive code in 1897,
the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey was charged
with the objective of providing special reports,
illustrations and maps
to give description of geology and natural resources of and
to the state. 2

3. Since then… Oracle Adobe Creative Suite Microsoft Visual Studio
Software Tools, Suites, Environments at WVGES
Oracle
Adobe Creative Suite
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft IIS Web Server
ESRI’s ArcGIS:
ArcMap (ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo, Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst,
Geostatistical Analyst)
ArcSDE
ArcIMS
Map production has come a long way since then,
and the Survey has continued to serve the
general and professional public throughout the years.
The majority of our 30 or so geologists have a moderate to advanced level of
GIS expertise to achieve their work.
Several GIS technicians and
programmer/analysts aid our operations by:
providing further processing of spatial data; utilize various database systems;
devise custom, in-house applications for staff and public to access data;
design interactive web mapping applications for spatial data viewing.
--All of this through various software tools, suites, environments. 3

4. WVGES’ Most Popular Web Applications:
Interacts with Oracle, ArcSDE, ArcIMS via ASP.NET and PHP
“Pipeline-Plus”
253,567 page views for 2009
ATG Core Viewer
118,173 page views for 2009
The majority of these data are severed to the public via our popular
“pipeline-plus”, Appalachian Tight Gas portal,
Mine Information Database System or “MIDS”,
[ concurrently along with our many interactive web mapping applications ]
Our main work consists in the areas of coal, oil and gas,
general geology along with special research projects.
MIDS
66, 616 page views for 2009 4

5. Coal Bed Mapping Program (CBMP)
The Coal Bed Mapping Project (CBMP),
is nearing completion for creation of a geologic, coal resource
web GIS for West Virginia. 5

6. Coal: 78 Interactive Maps!
Pittsburgh Coal IMS
The popular
All Coal IMS
60,192 page views for 2009
78 interactive map services provide access to not only
geologic features
but to mine map images and mine data through MIDS.
The recent addition of the “All Mining” IMS has proven to be
popular with the public , It gives a general overview
of mining methods.
The user can then view more detailed information via
links to a specific coal bed IMS.
Detailed coal bed
information arranged
by geologic stratigraphy. 6

7. and is our spatial front-end to “pipeline-plus”.
West Virginia Oil and Gas (WVOG) is our latest IMS introduced last June
and is our spatial front-end to “pipeline-plus”.
Together, they both have become a very useful, powerhouse informational web portal.
The IMS alone accounts for over (one hundred ninety thousand) 190,000
views for the 2nd half of 2009.
This combined application won last year's WV OIT Award for excellence in the “Government to Business” category.
192, 619 pages views for 2009 7

8. As many of you know, Marcellus Shale is in the news.
We continue to add and develop a web presence for this important gas find.
57,327 pages views for 2009 8

9. We are also involved in regional study beyond our borders through DOE sponsored projects.
The 3 year Appalachian Tight Sands Gas Project (ATG) provides a unique geologic play-specific
data center on low permeability gas reserves for both the states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Its IMS is our most complex to date providing 163 features in 210 layers! And this is only 6 out of 20 plays for the state!
It also won a 2009 OIT award for “Collaboration across Boundaries” 9

10. Geologic Mapping:
Digital Geologic Mapping, especially the STATEMAP project, continues to work
toward providing modern, 1 to 24K, detailed, geologic maps for re-source assessment,
environmental studies, and land use determinations. 10

11. - - Prototype - - It's been long overdue.
We are working on a proto-type, interactive, geologic map for the state.
Phase 1 will involve the 1968 map. We hope to release Phase 1 later this year.
Further phases will employ current research. 11

12. National Park Service Units in West Virginia along with nearby
State Parks
The new National Park Service Mapping Project is a collaboration among
[government and academic entities which includes]
WVGES, USGS, WVU and Concord University
to map the surficial and bedrock geology of the Gauley River, New River Gorge and Bluestone River regions.
The geodatabase deliverable, adhering to FGDC, USGS and STATEMAP standards, will in the future
be seam-less-ly integrated within the existing National Park Service GIS. 12

13. Our Newest Project
“The NGDS is a distributed network of databases that are collectively building a system for acquisition, management and maintenance of geothermal and related data.”
- From NGDS.
Currently, 46 states, including West Virginia, participate in this project lead by the Arizona State Geological Survey
The Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has stimulated the Survey with two new projects:
Within the past few weeks, the Survey embarked upon involvement in
The "National Geothermal Data System" (NGDS) which is a consortium
of federal, state, and academic institutions under the auspices of the Department of Energy
to foster the growth of geothermal in the nation's energy portfolio. 13

14. ARRA: Broadband Mapping Project
Result of “Phase 1” for
the April 30, 2010 deliverable.
Also through ARRA, The Broadband Mapping Project,
under the WV Office of the State GIS Coordinator and in cooperation
with the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management,
and with the aid of Kimball Services,
the Survey has completed phase 1 in developing a statewide coverage map
which will provide a comprehensive view of current broadband infrastructure,
deployment, and service availability in the state. 14

15. Upper Big Branch Mine
Lastly, we all were horrified with the recent Big Branch mine disaster in Raleigh County.
As part of the investigation, the Survey is charged with the construction of a 3-D geologic model of the Big Branch Mine vicinity.
Particular attention will be on Devonian Shale faults, coal elevations and thicknesses,
drill holes and gas wells—especially old and shallow wells. 15

16. The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Our diverse scientific research and work continues.
All of what was mentioned here could not and can not be achieved without the
sophisticated tools and environment of GIS
in conjunction with the technical expertise of those who use them.
We are your Survey and we hope to continue to serve you and the state,
both now and in the future,
with the objectives set for us back in 1897. 16