ISGS - July 2010 Activity Highlights

2010 Illinois Marathon Map Wins ESRI Cartography Award

Each year, a Cartography Special Interest Group (Carto SIG) meeting is held at the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, California. Carto SIG is an active community of people dedicated to discussing cartography issues with ESRI product teams, users, and other interested colleagues.

ESRI Carto SIG Map Awards are given annually to the best examples of cartographic work from the map Gallery at the ESRI International User Conference. This year, the 2010 Illinois Marathon map, designed by Jane Domier and Donald Luman of the Illinois State Geological Survey, was awarded an ESRI Carto SIG Map Award on July 15, 2010.

Award judges had indicated they paid special attention to the street map "which displayed a well-balanced graphic layering and clear symbolization of the disparate race routes with good offsetting of coincident routes. There is, as well, very good point symbol selection, sizing and placement."

The 2010 Illinois Marathon map was the official course map for the marathon event in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. This map was created to develop and measure courses for the full marathon, half-marathon, and 5K run. The map served as an important planning tool for the Illinois Marathon Committee during the year-long preparation and was published in the local newspaper and made available to the more than 15,000 participants and the general public in on-line and paper formats. A companion map entitled Running along an Ice Age Trail was created as a local interest map to explain the glacial geology of the marathon course and was based upon recently acquired LiDAR elevation data.

A digital version of a section of the 2010 Illinois Marathon map will be displayed on the ESRI Carto SIG award gallery at http://www.esri.com/industries/map-chart-dataproduction/community/maps.html. The full map can also be seen on the Illinois Marathon website: http://illinoismarathon.com/course.php (Contacts: Jane Domier, Don Luman)

Student Worker Helps Find Leaking Steam Vent

On July 30, 2010, Bill Budd, University of Illinois senior student in geology, participated in an informal temperature survey around a leaking steam vault on the Urbana campus. Working with Timothy Larson, geologist from the Illinois State Geological Survey Geophysics Section, and assisted by University facility and grounds staff, Budd measured the soil temperature in a series of holes on either side of the vault while steam puffed out of the manhole. The highest temperature measured in the survey was 199°F at a depth of 4 feet. Temperatures approached 180°F in several other holes. Later that day, Budd entered the data into a spreadsheet and created two color cross sections showing the distribution of temperatures around the vault and sent a report to the University. On the following work day, a work crew started to excavate the area and found that an obstruction in the drain to the vault was allowing hot water to accumulate. (Contact: Timothy Larson)

Research Opportunities on Climate Change

Illinois State Geological Survey geologists Scott Elrick and John Nelson are currently coring a stratigraphic test well that samples the middle and upper Pennsylvanian rocks of the Illinois Basin. The core from the well will be a significant reference core for stratigraphic correlations from the Appalachians into the midcontinent and will provide sampling opportunities for research into the climate of the past. (Contact: Timothy Larson)

Scientists Interviewed for News Stories

Scott Elrick, Illinois State Geological Survey geologist, and primarily personnel with the Office of Mines and Minerals were interviewed by Chris Young of the State Journal Register, in regard to wastewater at coal mines. The wastewater, also referred to as coal slurry, is a by-product of washing the coal to prepare it for sale. The slurry may be placed underground in abandoned coal mines, hundreds of feet below groundwater aquifers, or in approved above-ground impoundments, where it may be more of an environmental concern. Modern surface impoundments have environmentally approved liners and collection systems that mimic waste landfills. Illinois has 20 active mines today and two dispose of slurry underground; a third mine is approved to do so. The article can be found at: http://www.osmosus.com/news/display/coal-slurry-may-be-safer-if-kept-far-underground (Contact: Scott Elrick)

Illinois State Geological Survey engineering geologist Robert Bauer was interviewed by WGN radio on July 16, 2010, concerning the small earthquake near Washington, D.C., and the general impression of the public that there has been an increase in earthquakes throughout the world. (Contact: Robert Bauer)

On June 17, 2010, Pius Weibel, Illinois State Geological Survey, appeared on WCFN/Channel 49 to talk about sinkholes, specifically to compare sinkholes in Guatemala City with the Dongola sinkhole in Illinois. The interview lasted about 3 minutes. (Contact: Pius Weibel)

Several Talks Given on the Chicago Lakefront

Michael Chrzastowski, coastal geologist at the Illinois State Geological Survey, was a guest speaker and field trip leader at the Garden Camp 3: Ecosystems Institute held July 1, 2010, in Highwood and sponsored by Openlands. Chrzastowski's presentation addressed the geologic history of the North Shore ravines and the northern Illinois coast. The field trip was along the ravines and lakefront of the former Fort Sheridan site, which is now owned and managed by Openlands. Thirty-five teachers attended. Chrzastowski also led a half-day field trip for teachers from the Chicago Public Schools at the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in Lyons. The purpose of the trip was to familiarize the teachers with this historic site and explain its geologic significance in the evolution of the Chicago River. (Contact: Michael Chrzastowski)

Highlights Archive

Updated 08/01/2012 SLD