New! Click anywhere on the GIS map to view a summary of geologic features

The problem with geology maps you've seen before

Most geology maps have lots of colors and symbols representing various geologic units---too many, perhaps: Onlookers are constantly referring to the map legend, then back to the area of interest, legend, map, and back and forth your eyes go. 

Further, if you want to know something about surface versus bedrock geology, you have the added complication of using different maps altogether.  Most likely these "old school" paper-based maps are of different scales and areas of extent and it's hard to get a "big picture" view of the geology of an area.  Not to mention, the big paper maps are hard to use in the field -- especially a windy field.

This geology mapping project aims to be different.  Here's how:

Now you can just click on pretty much any location on the Wisconsin Geology online GIS map to open a popup showing a summary of geologic features for the spot clicked.

Here are three ways to access geology information from the Wisconsin Geology GIS map:

1. See a landform that looks interesting on the Wisco Geology GIS map?  Pick it and click it, and a popup will provide a summary of geologic information (bedrock and surficial) for that area.  Super interesting geology will eventually have links from the popup to a blog article.
2. Don't want to click and poke at the map so much?  Just press the "Info Summary" button in the top ribbon, then just zoom to an area of interest. Within your map view extent, you'll see a summary of geologic features along with any outcrops that might be in sight. These descriptions will update automatically as you pan or zoom around the map.  Nifty, huh? 
3. You know you can use the Wisconsin Geology GIS map on a smart phone, right?  Yep, you'll have gobs of geologic information at your fingertips while out in the field -- and the little blue dot knows where you are at all times, of course. While hiking, just tap the map to see what's around--and under--you.

This will take a while to compile

I'll have to compile information from dozens and dozens of geology maps and convert them into my specific GIS format to make this all work. It'll take a while.  As geologist J. David Love has said, "You can't do geology in a hurry."

This project overall is still in it's infancy, but since few people are even looking at this project, I thought I'd go ahead and publish this even as it's incomplete and I'm still testing this idea.

Areas that are completed with more refined, large-scale geologic map data summaries as of September 25, 2018 include the counties of:

• Brown
• Door
• Kewaunee
• Sheboygan

I suggest you try out the above counties first (look in the Green Bay area).

You can look at other parts of the state, but the summary information is based on a very generalized small scale maps and lacks detail. The polygons and boundaries are purposely transparent. If you are able to see polygon edges, please do not interpret them to be precise locations of geologic contacts.

In the near future, I will be compiling more detailed bedrock and surficial geology into this "summary" layer for the following areas:

• The Fox Valley area of Eastern Wisconsin
• Southeastern Wisconsin
• Northeastern Wisconsin
• Central Wisconsin including Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties

Stay tuned!