Such factors as groundwater resources, groundwater protection, lake shore and stream erosion, landfill and waste disposal and coal development planning were given the highest rankings, followed by earthquake risks, coal, oil and gas, sand and gravel, and limestone, dolomite and sandstone resources. In addition to maps, the Survey provides basic geologic data to individuals and agencies that have the responsibility for formulating policies for land use, waste disposal, pollution and construction. Its information is also used by teachers, students and individuals interested in finding out what's below the earth's surface. Map scale defines the relationship between a measurement on the map and the actual measurement on the ground. The numerator, usually 1, represents map distance, and the denominator represents horizontal ground distance.
Different scales serve their purposes.
It depicts the horizontal and vertical distribution of earth material for the entire state down to a depth of 50 feet. It is useful for such applications as assessing the contamination potential of waste disposal practices. Maps of mineral resources and coal structures are examples of some of the maps available in this range. Beyond determining the type of rock in a given location or where coal or sand and gravel resources are located, McKay says having the entire state mapped in that amount of detail could yield much in the way of environmental benefits. Today, people use geological mapping to know where to install septic tanks, find suitable locations for landfills, anticipate foundation conditions for construction projects and to understand what's underground when they're cleaning up waste spills.