The wiscLITH database has been gleaned from the nearly 45,000 paper records maintained by the Survey. These records contain detailed descriptions of the rock types (including stratigraphy and lithology) encountered during well drilling.

The information is organized in a set of related tables in Microsoft® Access® format. Forms and queries allow a user with rudimentary database skills to view, sort, select and evaluate the information; users can perform searches on the records and customize the format for their particular use or interpretation. Records can be selected and exported to other software programs for further analysis. In addition, the wiscLITH CD-ROM includes software that enables the user to bring the subsurface records into a geographic information system for further analysis.

The data files are updated twice a year, during the first week of January and the first week of June.