Wyoming State Geological Survey Releases Digital Datasets in New Publication Series

LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) announces the launch of a new publication series dedicated to standalone datasets and data products, furthering the agency’s mission to modernize and provide accessible, high-quality geological information. This first set of releases highlights digital geological map datasets converted into the Geologic Map Schema (GeMS), a standardized format for storing and sharing geologic map data.

“Providing these data in GeMS format greatly enhances and expedites how stakeholders—from researchers to industry professionals—can use, interpret, and share geologic information,” says Dr. Erin Campbell, WSGS Director and Wyoming State Geologist. “This effort paves the way for a more seamless, cohesive representation of Wyoming’s geology.”

These data conversions were funded in part through the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey. As part of an ongoing initiative, the WSGS is converting legacy digital geospatial data for 30 1:100,000-scale bedrock geologic maps across Wyoming, creating consistent data structures, coding, and symbology according to GeMS standards. 

By adopting the GeMS format, WSGS aims to:

• Provide common GIS formats that facilitate easy data integration and interpretation.
• Streamline data consistency across multiple geological maps at the 1:100,000-scale, and across a variety of authors, methods, and software, ranging from 1992 to 2011.
• Enhance data sharing and interoperability, reducing the need for manual interpretation of geologic units and codes.
• Improve future mapping efforts, defining a data and nomenclature standard for new geologic maps.

This milestone is a key step in creating a seamless 1:100,000-scale geologic database for Wyoming. As part of this ongoing effort, the WSGS is preparing data releases for several quadrangles in the northeastern part of the state in the Powder River Basin and Black Hills region—including Recluse, Devils Tower, Gillette, Sundance, Newcastle, Reno Junction, Bill, and Lance Creek.

The first two of these GeMS datasets, Bill and Reno Junction, are now available on the WSGS website:

• DR-2024-1: Digital data for the geologic map of the Bill 30' x 60' quadrangle, Wyoming (2024)https://www.wsgs.wyo.gov/pubs-maps/publication-search.aspx?PubID=DR-2024-1
• DR-2024-2: Digital data for the geologic map of the Reno Junction 30' x 60' quadrangle, Wyoming (2024)https://www.wsgs.wyo.gov/pubs-maps/publication-search.aspx?PubID=DR-2024-2

Each GeMS dataset is available as a standalone product. At minimum, each release includes an abstract and metadata, and is offered in both geodatabase and shapefile formats. Additional methods or supporting information may also be included, though specifics may vary.

For more information on the WSGS’s new publication series, or to download these datasets, please visit: https://wsgs.wyo.gov.

 

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