GIS Download Central

Whether you’re a GIS professional or are just learning to use Google Earth, you’ll surely find these maps and data useful. If you have resources to share, please email us.

Downloadable Resources

• 1984-2015 Extent of Mining Survey Shape files, Google Earth , JSON, and more.
• MTR Google timelapse – See MTR happen over time with this unique tool.
• MTR Webmap– All the states webservers in one place
• Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement GeoMine
  Shape files, Web Map Service, and more.
• Kentucky Surface Mine Information System
  Web Map Service
• West Virginia DEP
  Shape files, Geodatabases, LIDAR.
• Virginia Division of Mined Land Reclamation mapping page
  Shape files, Web Map Service, and more
• 2009 Extent of Mining Survey
  Shape files, Google Earth files, data tables, and more.

• 2010 Reclamation Survey
  Shape files, Google Earth files, data tables, and more.
• 2012 Extent of Mining Survey
  Includes mine boundaries, sludge impoundments, and processing plant locations.
• Appalachian Mountaintop Removal
  Interactive tour in Google Earth.
• Featured Communities– videos and stories embedded in Google Earth
• Endangered Mountains – videos embedded in Google Earth
• 3D dragline – made in Google Sketchup
• Hobet Mine Site Overlay – on 36 US Cities in Google Earth

Reclamation FAIL Studies

Many wonder how coal companies justify blowing up the oldest mountains on the continent. Is it because it’s more profitable for them? Because it employs fewer miners? Nope, according to the coal companies, they are blowing up mountains because the Appalachians need more land for economic development.

The promise of “reclaimed” flat land for economic development is a big, flat lie. Two scientific studies reveal that 1.2 million acres, including 500 mountains, have been demolished by coal companies in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. Over 89% of sites are not currently being used for economic development.

Tour Mountaintop Removal in Google Earth

If you already have Google Earth on your computer, you can view the Appalachian Mountaintop Removal Layer without downloading anything.

The layer includes a high resolution mine site tour, the National Memorial for the Mountains, before and after image overlays of mines, mine-site overlays on 36 U.S. cities, a 3-D model of a dragline, and more.

Once you have Google Earth open on your computer, open the “Global Awareness” folder in the “Layers” menu at the bottom left portion of your screen. Clicking on “User’s Guide” will help you make the most of your visit.

Mountaintop Removal on 36 U.S. Cities

For most people, its hard to understand how big 10,000 acres really is. So, we superimposed the Hobet mountaintop removal complex in Boone County, WV on 36 of the largest cities in the United States. As shown on the right, Hobet is as big as Manhattan Island in New York City. You can explore the city overlays in three ways: still images, videos, or directly in Google Earth.