Mark Joselyn and Tom Kompare,
Illinois Natural History Survey
The Illinois Department Natural Resources (DNR) and its divisions, the Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Waste Management and Research Center, Office of Realty and Environmental Planning, Office of Scientific Research and Analysis, Office of Mines and Minerals, and Illinois State Museum, have been actively involved in the use and application of GIS technology for over 10 years. A significant result has been the development of one of the most comprehensive spatial digital databases, at the state level, anywhere in the country. In order to make this information more accessible, many of DNR's statewide datasets were published on CD-ROM in April, 1994. An updated and augmented version in two volumes was released in 1996.
This publication was the first of its kind in the country from a state perspective. It signifies technological advancement but it also reflects the evolution of an institutional attitude toward data, specifically that data of this type are resources to be shared and utilized by citizens and groups with an interest and concern for Illinois, its people and its resources. This publication is intended to make this valuable and dynamic resource more accessible and available to other state agencies, libraries, schools, public interest groups and the private sector. A hoped for effect will be to increase knowledge and consideration of geography relative to the state's people, resources and related issues. Virtually all aspects of the man-made and natural environments in which we live have spatial components. The data contained on these two CD-ROMs provide a basis for integrating these spatial components into research, education, and management.
Datasets contained on the CD-ROM were primarily constructed on a project by project basis in response to programmatic needs of the divisions of DNR. Others, particularly infrastructure, hydrography and census tracts, were derived from US Geological Survey or US Bureau of the Census data files. While some modifications were made specifically for this publication, none of the data were produced simply for inclusion on the CD-ROM. Rather, they have been used extensively for more than 10 years by all of DNR's divisions for basic research and in response to project needs. The data contained on the CD-ROM represent thousands of hours of time and effort when all aspects of data collection, validation and translation are considered.
Most of the information is at a scale of 1:100,000 or 1:500,000 although scale varies depending on the map layer. Data at a scale of 1:100,000 or smaller are suitable for regional and local, but not site specific, analysis and use. National map accuracy standards equate to a positional error of 167 feet at this scale.
The CD-ROM contains the following map layers:
VOLUME 1:
Data by COUNTY
Name Data Set Name Type Source Scale
--------------- ------------- -------- ------------
Floodzones fldzones polygon 1:14,000
County Boundary county polygon 1:62,500
Roads roads line 1:100,000
Streams streams network 1:100,000
Township township township 1:62,500
Wells wells95 point variable
Wetlands wtldspy polygon 1:24,000
wtldspt point 1:24,000
wtldsln line 1:24,000
Data by STATE
Name Data Set Name Type Source Scale
----------------------- ------------- ------- ------------
Bedrock Aquifers, 500ft aqmb500 polygon 1:500,000
Bedrock Aquifers, 300ft aqmb300 polygon 1:500,000
Bedrock Aquifers >500ft aqmbg500 polygon 1:500,000
Sand & Gravel Aquifers aqmsg polygon 1:500,000
Geologic Map of IL bedgeo polygon 1:500,000
Bedrock Topography bedtopo line 1:500,000
USGS Hydrologic catunits polygon 1:500,000
Catalog Units
Coal Mine Permits coalprmt polygon 1:4800
County Boundaries counties polygon 1:62,500
Coal Mines: clminept point 1:100,000
Active & Abandoned
Coal Mines clminepy polygon 1:100,000
Active & Abandoned
Public Water Supply h2osup point varies
Surface Water Intakes
Vertical & Horizontal horizont point 1:24,000
Control Points
Thickness of Loess loess line 1:500,000
Woodfordian Moraines moraines polygon 1:500,000
Quaternary Deposits quatgeo polygon 1:500,000
State Boundary statebnd polygon 1:62,500
Structural Features strcline line 1:500,000
Anticlines, synclines, monoclines
Structural Features strfault line 1:500,000
Faults, Grabens, Flexures
Structural Features strpoint point 1:500,000
Structural Features strpoly polygon 1:500,000
Townships township polygon 1:62,500
Wells and Borings wells95 point varies
Shaded Relief allst.tif tif file
allst.tifw tif file
Volume II:
Data by COUNTY:
Name Data Set Name Type Source Scale
----------------------- ------------- ------- ------------
Airports airports line 1:100,000
Archaeological Resource archmod polygon 1:250,000
Potential
Census blocks census90 polygon 1:100,000
County Boundary county polygon 1:62,500
Municipal boundaries munbnd polygon 1:100,000
Railroads rails line 1:100,000
Roads roads line 1:100,000
Towns towns point varies
Townships township polygon 1:62,500
Utilities utility line 1:100,000
Landcover landcov grid
Data by STATE:
Name Data Set Name Type Source Scale
----------------------- ------------- ------- ------------
Cemeteries cemetery point 1:24,000
County Boundaries counties polygon 1:62,500
Federal Lands fedland polygon 1:24,000
State House of Rep. house polygon 1:100,000
District
Interstates intstate line 1:100,000
Solid Waste Landfills landfill point varies
Natural Areas natarea polygon 1:24,000
Natural Areas natareat point 1:24,000
Nature Preserves natpres polygon 1:24,000
Map series Quadrangle Boundaries
7.5 minute quad quad75 polygon 1:24,000
30x60 minute quad quad100 polygon 1:100,000
1x2 degree quad quad250 polygon 1:250,000
State Senate Districts senate polygon 1:100,000
State Boundary statebnd polygon 1:62,500
State Conservation Area stconsrv polygon 1:24,000
State Forests stforest polygon 1:24,000
State Fish & Wildlife stfwa polygon 1:24,000
State Routes stroutes line 1:100,000
Townships township line 1:100,000
US Highways ushways line 1:100,000
Data sets of particular value and interest, all of which were developed entirely by one of DNR's divisions, are discussed in more detail below:
The archaeologic probability map (1:250,000) was developed by the Illinois State Museum. It depicts areas believed to possess a high archaeologic potential and is intended for coarse regional analysis. It has assisted agencies in responding to requirements of the Illinois State Agency Historic Preservation Act (P.A. 86-707) which mandates state government to preserve, restore, and maintain the historic resources of the state.
The wells coverage, developed and continuously updated by the Illinois State Geological Survey, is the most comprehensive database of its kind in the country. At the time of publication it contained 335,695 individual well and boring locations throughout the state, their well type and a unique identification number used to relate back to over 60 fields of attribute data recorded for each location. The accuracy of location for most features is considered to be +/- 100 feet.
The Illinois Natural History Survey created the map layer of Illinois Natural Areas (1:24,000) and Illinois Nature Preserves (1:24,000) as identified by the Illinois Department of Conservation. These areas represent some of the finest of Illinois' natural resources and include areas of unique biologic, geologic or natural value.
The Illinois State Water Survey developed the unincorporated flood zone boundaries (1:12,000, nominal) data set for all of Illinois. Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps were the primary source for this map layer.
The solid waste landfill sites active in 1993 represents a subset of a much larger database, the Inventory of Landbased Disposal Sites maintained by the Waste Management and Research and Information Center.
The 1992 Census data provides a comprehensive assessment of basic demography and ethnicity at the census tract level for the entire state. The Office of Research and Planning also contributed the legislative boundaries for State Senate and House districts as of 1992.
The roads, railroads, hydrography and utilities coverages were derived from USGS Digital Line Graph files. Significant value was added by recoding the attribute values to facilitate use. The roads and railroads coverages have both been updated. All major highways as of 1993 were added to the roads coverage while railroads were updated as of 1991 and include active/abandoned status and ownership. Documentation, based on the Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC) Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) (June 8, 1994) is included on the CD-ROM for each layer.
The data, with the exception of the wells coverage, are not explicitly copyrighted. However the licensing agreement states that data are not to be redistributed without prior knowledge of DNR. Liability concerns are addressed in the licensing agreement which states, in part, that 'the burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user.'
Data included on the CD-ROM were produced using ARC/INFO software from ESRI, Inc., Redlands, CA and are all in ARC/INFO format. This does not indicate an endorsement of this product but simply reflects the primary software currently used by DNR and its divisions. ARC/INFO, ArcView2, or ArcView3 software and a CD-ROM drive are required to access the map information. The CD-ROM also works on Macintosh computers running ArcView2. While this does not address the needs of all potential users it does provide a 'plug-and-play' product that can be used immediately, assuming proper hardware and software environments. A copy of the CD-ROM is available, free of charge, to government agencies, schools, and libraries; and at a charge of $200 to the private sector and private individuals.
DNR is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of these data and welcomes any comments about their content, format or utility. People interested in additional information should contact Sheryl Oliver, GIS Manager, Office of Realty and Environmental Planning, 524 South Second Street, Lincoln Tower Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62701 (217) 785-8586.
Mark Joselyn 8/94,
updated 5/97 MJ/TK
updated SKB 11/98
updated SKB 08/06