KGS map wins award at professional conference

LAWRENCE — A new geologic map of Lincoln County published by the Kansas Geological Survey received second place in the “Thematic Map” category at the largest international conference dedicated to geographic information system technology.

John Dunham, KGS cartographic services manager, and Emily Bunse, senior cartographic services specialist, presented the map as part of the Esri International User Conference Map Gallery exhibit, a showcase of GIS work worldwide. Participants submitted nearly 700 maps to the exhibit, including 130 entries in the “Thematic Maps” category. Exhibit attendees selected their favorites among the maps on display in each category, a kind of “people’s choice” award. About 20,000 people attended the conference.

“We had more people interact with us this year than I can remember for any year in the past,” Dunham said. “We also received a great deal of positive feedback.”

Dunham, Bunse and KGS cartographer Kolbe Andrzejewski performed the computer compilation, map layout and database design work on the Lincoln County map. KGS geologist emeritus Robert Sawin and KGS geologist Anthony Layzell mapped the geology.

“I’m very grateful that we had the opportunity to chat with attendees from around the world about our mapping techniques and the geological story the Lincoln County map tells,” said Bunse, whose attendance at the Esri conference was her first in person. “We collected ideas and inspiration from those conversations and other Map Gallery entries that we’ll take into future designs.”

“Surficial Geology of Lincoln County, Kansas” is available online. Paper copies may be purchased by contacting the KGS publication sales office in Lawrence by phone at 785-864-3965 or email at kgs-publications@ku.edu or the KGS’s Kansas Geologic Sample Repository in Wichita by phone at 316-943-2343 ext. 200 or by emailing kgsr@ku.edu.

The Kansas Geological Survey is a nonregulatory research and service division of KU. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, rocks and minerals, and earthquakes.