[postgis-users] postgis, postgresql and geological data

[Gerry Creager N5JXS]

Dennis,

I'm responding off-list for the time being, although generally we try to 
keep all the responses on-list...

A couple of points to consider.

DEMs, DOQQs, etc are different data presentations.  Once you snag them, 
you have to consider the metadata, especially the geodetic datum and 
ellipsoid of the information, as well as the projection.

Mapserver will reproject data, but if you try to mix geodetic datums 
(NAD27 vs NAD83, for instance) things will get confusing very quickly.

In the database you created for your brother, how do you log lat/lon? 
Are data acquired by GPS, or SWAG'd off a quad-sheet?  What's the level 
of accuracy you want for the data, and how precisely are they recorded 
now in the database?

Essentially, what you're looking at is a full-blown GIS application, and 
while MapServer can render the data, and MySQL or PostGreSQL can handle 
any and all of the database chores, the user interface might still be a 
pretty problem.

I'll try to answer geodetic questions if you have any. Please refer 
general Mapserver questions to the main list, so the larger public can 
gain from the discussion.

Regards,
Gerry

Dennis Veatch wrote:
> On Wednesday 17 December 2003 10:12 am, Doug_Newcomb at fws.gov wrote:
> 
>>Dennis,
>>      You might check with your local USGS-WRD office,
>>http://water.usgs.gov/admin/wrd-dir/OH.html#HDR0 ,  to see about local
>>geological GIS data layers  and their existing well database  ( I believe
>>it's called NWIS) .   
> 
> 
> Thanks for the link, I will check that out.
> 
> 
>>You will probably not be able to get the detailed 
>>information  that it sounds like you want for each well from a generalized
>>geological GIS data layer.  From what I understand, drillers keep logs on
>>how deep they go and what kind of substrate they encounter as they drill (
>>x feet of sand, x feet of clay  ,etc. ) .  If your brother-in-law has such
>>information for each well, you can attach it to the geographic points.
>>
> 
> 
> Yes, I know (or assumed) the detail information probably is not available. 
> Though I did find a web site I could input a well log report (for Ohio) and 
> get some general info about it, but not what I was looking for.
> 
> Yes I have the detailed well information from my brother-in-law he submits to 
> the state so it's just a matter of creating the appropriate tables and 
> importing that data. A good portion of the well data he has already put into 
> the cheesy database I made so he could look up customer/well info.
> 
> So the actual well data is a minor concern, it's finding the approriate data 
> set (?) to use so when a well is selected, it's lat/long is placed correctly 
> over the map. 
> 
> Another confusing aspect is which do I use? There's DLG's, DEM's, DOQQ's just 
> to name a few.
> 
> My biggest problem is wrapping my brain around this. After monitoring this 
> mail list for a good while some of the issues I have seen dealing with 
> geometry, datasets, etc are more or less exactly beyond me. Not that will 
> stop me trying, this will either be a success or a colossal waste of my 
> time. :)
> 
> 
> 
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Some background about what I want to do and hopefully someone can point me
>>in
>>the right direction. My brother-in-law drills water wells and some time ago
>>I
>>created a customer database so he could look up information about the well
>>he
>>drilled. The idea I have is to create a database of geological data for
>>water
>>well drillers and merge/link it to a database of their customers. The state
>>
>>of Ohio now requires the well driller to include the latitude and longitude
>>
>>of the new well when he submits his report to the state agency.
>>
>>Other information they provide on that state report are the underburden
>>layers
>>they drill through, such as, dirt, clay, sand, gravel, clay/sand,
>>gravel/sand, etc.
>>
>>He has well records going back to when his father was in the same business
>>(about 50 years worth). So in general the goal is to take a wells
>>longitude/latitude and overlay that with a map of what was drilled through
>>to
>>create the well.
>>
>>My confusion is where to find existing geological data that I can use as a
>>basis, can such data be imported (easily) into Postgis/Postgresql and well,
>>
>>there are a number of other things but I don't want to make this post to
>>long.
>>
>>Any thoughts, pointers or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
>>--
>>Registered Linux user 193414
>>http://counter.li.org
>>
>>"Trying"? My contribution was much closer to a "feeble wave in the general
>>direction of something that might lead you one step closer to a solution
>>if you squint really hard and do all of the work."
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 

-- 
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu
Network Engineering -- AATLT, Texas A&M University	
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.847.8578
Page: 979.228.0173
Office: 903A Eller Bldg, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843