Nevada Geo-Flood Hazard Map in kml

7-20-2010_2-14-51_pm

Two sweet snippets of a new 15mb kml file that shows the distribution of piedmont and playa flood hazards in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada (just south of Vegas) as inferred from geomorphology. I think that the information content of these types of derivative characterizations of hazards is optimized in Google Earth (or similar virtual globe application). In this case, some arguably arcane geological characteristics are boiled down to a straightforward relative hazard scheme running from cool colors (low hazard) to warm colors (high hazard). The closeup is dominated by the 'Barbie' fan (almost too perfect in shape). It straddles the border of NV and CA. Note how the trunk stream just bisects the Lucy Gray Range...Note that the playa at lower left is the proposed site of a major airport. Yes. That is what I said...Airport.

7-20-2010_2-22-06_pm

The other snip is a sky view of the entirety of the map area with Las Vegas just out of the frame at the top. Just look at that playa (Roach Lake...yes...that is right...Roach Lake). Nice and flat. Just begging for an airport. Such ideas are far from outrageous in Nevada. Go check out area 51 sometime.

Using the transparency slider in GE allows for the user to become familiar with the distinctive surface characteristics of Quaternary desert piedmont deposits (mainly alluvial fan deposits) that inform the hazard interpretation. The high-res imagery available for this area really helps in this regard and completely trumps the overall value of a flat, paper, colored map.
 
House, P.K., 2007, Assessment of piedmont and playa flood hazards in the Ivanpah Valley area, Clark County, Nevada. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Map 158, 1:50,000.
 
House, P.K., Ramelli, A.R., and Buck, B.J., 2005, Surficial geologic map of the Ivanpah Valley area, Clark County, Nevada. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Map 156, 1:50,000.
 
Online report coming soon...seriously.

 

 

State Geologic Maps in kml format and other, did you know?

At the AASG meeting I was reminded of Mrdata...(http://mrdata.usgs.gov/) a very useful but apparently poorly known repository of geologic data, much of which is amenable to viewing on a Virtual Globe or in a GIS program. For example, you can find statewide geologic maps for the entire US on the site. They have been massaged to be uniform in their symbolization. Though derived from small-scale maps, these little babies are pretty useful for visualization when dropped into GE and made slightly transparent.

7-21-2009_2-21-57_pm

I'm curious as to the ratio of geologists who could use this to those who know of it.

Link to National Dataset:

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geology/state/

Link to Nevada:

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geology/state/state.php?state=NV

San Diego State University geology-themed kml files

Lcrquadmatrix01

The Department of Geological Sciences at SDSU is doing a major service for the geological community by providing some excellent geology-themed kml files. The word needs to spread.Go to their site and look for your favorite topic. Who couldn't like this stuff?

http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/localgeology/getour.html

There are an array of useful geology images in addtion to some other, practical datasets. For example, the link below is to a Google Earth file showing the extent, name, and index number of every 7.5 topographic quad in the US. It can be bulky if you leave all of the data turned on, but is useful nonetheless.

http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/localgeology/gekmz/maps_overlays/drg_dem_index/24...

 

Very Basic Example of a Virtual Field Trip

As I have mentioned in previous posts, Google Map's 'My Maps' feature offers a way to very quickly develop some interesting maps that incorporate images and commentary. This is the most basic application. It is possible to make the interface considerably more elaborate with additional coding using an API--application programming interface. The example below is one that I put together with a few hour's work with photo editing and Google Maps. It highlights some scenic points on recent flights between Reno, Vegas, and Oklahoma City (although the scenery ends near Albuquerque). The potential for this to highlight geologic features of Nevada is obvious, no? It can even be made very technical to share with other scientists. I made mine for fun, but it could be augmented considerably with text on history and geology along with relevant links.

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&om=1&s=AARTsJqxy2sRU...,-114.345703&spn=12.185677,18.676758&t=p&z=5&output=embed&w=425&h=350]