METADATA DEVELOPMENT FOR A MULTI-STATE KARST FEATURE DATABASE

摘要

This paper presents ongoing effort to develop a multi-state Karst Feature Database (KFD) using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Database Management System (DBMS) technologies. A regional KFD of the western part of Upper Mississippi Valley Karst (Hedges and Alexander, 1985) including southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa is created by merging Minnesota KFD with available karst features and geological information in Iowa. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a complete regional Upper Mississippi Valley KFD that includes all karst features in northwestern Illinois, southwestern Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota. Existing state, county, and sub-county karst feature datasets in Minnesota and Iowa have been assembled into the KFD, which is capable of visualizing and analyzing the entire data set across state boundary. GIS coverages of the entire datasets were projected based on NAD83 datum. The whole karst region is subdivided into Prairie du Chien Karst, Galena-Maquoketa Karst, and Silurian-Devonian Karst. This KFD will provide data and tools for researchers and land-use planners to access karst hazards and to manage water resources of the Upper Mississippi Valley Karst.