Objectives

For our project, we hope to contribute to these Southern Alberta landscape research and reconstruction efforts by coordinating the Quaternary geology of the southern Alberta area into a GIS. By digitizing this map and coordinating it to a DEM, complex relationships over a wide geographical area can be investigated - relationships that otherwise are not easily envisioned or attained through the traditional means of analyzing flat, 2D maps or field study.

Our objective is threefold:

1. To digitize the thematic map, Quaternary Geology, Southern Alberta (Shetsen, 1987) given to us by our supervisor, Claire Beaney. This is a 1:500,000 map sheet compiled from various base map sources consisting of Quaternary sediments and landforms classified into 26 different categories. After digitizing and processing the map in ArcInfo, the coverage will be brought into and analyzed by Idrisi 32.

2. To reference and drape the digitized Quaternary geology onto a Digital Elevation Model (DEM).

3. To explore the general spatial relationships between elevation, glacial deposits, and landforms using several GIS analytical and visualization such as overlay, draping, relief shading and drainage networks. From these observations, we hope to see patterns and answer questions relating to glacial geomorphology research currently being done in this area, including supervisors Claire Beaney and Dr. Tracy Brennand. Inquiries include determining the extent and distribution of glacial lakes in southern Alberta and whether glacial lake sediments were sub-glacial or pro-glacial in origin by examining the spatial relationships between ancient lake deposits and elevation with respect to local drainage networks. Such an analysis may suggest both the timing of sediment formation as well as the overall configuration of the Laurentide ice sheet.