Karst GIS advances in Kentucky

Little statewide geospatial data was available for Kentucky caves and karst in the past. Recent trends in land development have prompted a distinct need for these data in order to help minimize impact to cave and karst resources. During the past two years, the 1-66 Special Project of the National Speleological Society, The Kentucky Speleological Survey, and the Kentucky Geological Survey have gathered, archived, and developed karst data for the state. Current projects include publication of karst basin maps, archiving cave entrance locations, archiving and georeferencing cave maps, creating polygon coverages of cave conduits, and a statewide sinkhole digitization project. These data have proven useful in efforts to redirect planned developments, and to further the state of our knowledge about karst resources within Kentucky.