Donald Allen Keefer, M.S., LPG

Senior Hydrogeologist and Head
Hydrogeology and Geophysics Section

Phone: 217-244-2786 • Fax: 217-244-7004
E-mail: dkeefer@illinois.edu

Major Research Interests

• Characterization of Multi-scale Heterogeneities in Geologic Systems
• Hydrogeology of Glacial Sediments in Small Urban and Rural Areas
• Characterization and Visualization of Uncertainty in Geologic Data and Maps
• Simulation Techniques for Predicting the Distribution and Character of Glacial Sediments
• Development and Application of Advanced Visualization and Analysis Tools for Multi-dimensional Geologic Data

Current Research and Activities

• Director, ISGS Earth Systems Visualization Laboratory
• Assoc. Director, Prairie Research Institute's ESRI Development Center
• Develop RVA: Reservoir Visualization and Analysis Software
• Evaluate the uncertainty of a 3-D geologic model of glacial sediments within a portion of the Mahomet Valley
• 3-D Geologic Mapping in Kendall County, Illinois
• 3-D Geologic Mapping and Hydrogeologic Characterization in McHenry County, Illinois
• Develop and manage hub for National Geothermal Database System
• Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition

Selected Publications

Berg, R.C., S.J. Mathers, H. Kessler, D.A. Keefer (Eds), 2011. Synopsis of Current Three-dimensional Geological Mapping and Modeling in Geological Survey Organizations. Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 578, Champaign, Illinois, 92p.

Keefer, D.A., 2011. Chapter 10: Illinois State Geological Survey: A Modular Approach for 3-D Mapping that Addresses Economic Development Issues. (In) Synopsis of Current Three-dimensional Geological Mapping and Modeling in Geological Survey Organizations, R.C. Berg, S.J. Mathers, H. Kessler, D.A. Keefer (Eds). Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 578, Champaign, Illinois, pp.53-59.

Keefer, D.A., H. Kessler, M. Cave, S.J. Mathers, 2011. Chapter 2: Major Mapping and Modeling Issues. (In) Synopsis of Current Three-dimensional Geological Mapping and Modeling in Geological Survey Organizations, R.C. Berg, S.J. Mathers, H. Kessler, D.A. Keefer (Eds). Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 578, Champaign, Illinois, pp. 5-10.

Kessler, H., S.J. Mathers, D.A. Keefer, 2011. Chapter 3: Logistical Considerations Prior to Migrating to 3-D Geological Modeling and Mapping. (In) Synopsis of Current Three-dimensional Geological Mapping and Modeling in Geological Survey Organizations, R.C. Berg, S.J. Mathers, H. Kessler, D.A. Keefer (Eds). Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 578, Champaign, Illinois, pp.11-12.

Thomason, J.F., D.A. Keefer, 2011. Geologic Framework Modeling for Groundwater Applications in Northeastern Illinois. (In) Three-dimensional Geologic Mapping for Groundwater Applications: Workshop Extended Abstracts, H. Russell, R.C. Berg, L.H. Thorleifson (Eds), Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 8, 2011. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Open File Series (in press).

Dey, W.S., A.M. Davis, B.B. Curry, D.A. Keefer, C.C. Abert, 2007. Kane County water resources investigations: Final report on geologic investigations. Illinois State Geological Survey, Open File Series 2007-7, 114p.

Keefer, D.A., 2007. A framework and methods for characterizing uncertainty in geologic maps. In Three-dimensional geologic mapping for groundwater applications. Thorleifson, L.H., Berg, R.C. and Russell, H.A.J., (Eds), Minnesota Geological Survey, Open-File Report 07-4, pp. 23-26.

Sahoo, G.B., C. Ray, E. Mehnert and D.A. Keefer, 2006. Application of artificial neural networks to assess pesticide contamination in shallow groundwater, Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 367, pp. 234-251.

Keefer, D.A., S.C. Rittenhouse, 2005. Estimating the Uncertainty of 3-D Geologic Maps, (In) Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping for Groundwater Applications, Workshop Extended Abstracts, H. Russell, R.C. Berg and L.H. Thorleifson (Eds), Salt Lake City, UT, October 15, 2005, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Open File 5048, pp.31-34.

Mehnert, E., W.S. Dey, D.A. Keefer, H.A. Wehrmann, S.D. Wilson and C. Ray, 2005. Illinois' Statewide Monitoring Well Network for Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater—Network Development and Initial Sampling Results, Illinois State Geological Survey and Illinois State Water Survey Cooperative Groundwater Report 20, 64 p. CD-ROM

Mehnert, E., D.A. Keefer, W.S. Dey, H.A. Wehrmann, S.D. Wilson, and C. Ray, 2005. Aquifer sensitivity to pesticide leaching: testing a soils and hydrogeologic index method, Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, Vol. 25, no. 4 (Fall 2005), 60-67.

Berg, R.C., E.D. McKay, D.A. Keefer, R.A. Bauer, R.D. Johnstone, B.J. Stiff, A. Pugin, C.P. Weibel, A.J. Stumpf, T.H. Larson, W.-J. Su and G.T. Homrighous, 2002. Three-dimensional geologic mapping for transportation planning in central-northern Illinois: data selection, map construction, and model developments. (In) Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping for Groundwater Applications: Workshop Extended Abstracts, L. Harvey Thorliefson, Richard C. Berg (convenors), Denver, Colorado, October 26, 2002. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 1449, p. 13-17.

Keefer, D.A., E.D. McKay, and R.C. Berg, 2002. Evaluating uncertainty in geologic models from the IL29 Geologic Mapping Project. (In) Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping for Groundwater Applications: Workshop Extended Abstracts, L. Harvey Thorliefson, Richard C. Berg (convenors), Denver, Colorado, October 26, 2002. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 1449, p. 27-31.

Keefer, D.A., 2002. Techniques for Improved Geologic Modeling, (In) Digital Mapping Techniques '02 - Workshop Proceedings, D.R. Soller (ed), Salt Lake City, UT, May 19-22, 2002, US Geological Survey, Open File Report 02-370, pp. 135-140.

Ordering information for Illinois State Geological Survey Publications.

Updated 10/10/2011 SLD