Abstract

GIS-assisted landscape analysis, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Track: Mining and Geosciences
Authors: Paul Baldauf, Eric Householder, Patrick Burkhart

The study advances our understanding of the geologic landscape development in the Badlands National Park, South Dakota through GIS-assisted analysis. Erosional and depositional features (landslides, loess, sand dunes, etc.) record recent climate changes in the region. To analyze these features, we created a digital base map of Badlands National Park in ESRI's ArcGIS using field gather vector data and raster imagery. Vector point, line and polygon data were gathered using Trimble and Garmin GPS units, field notes, drawings and hyperlinked digital images from landslide locations. After importing the field data, a geodatabase and specific feature classes were created and overlaid on high-resolution imagery. This state of the art digital map allows us greater accuracy and analytical ability than a traditional geologic map. 3-dimensional analysis, together with carbon 14 dates, has helped us rapidly analyze rates of incision and cliff retreat, aiding our interpretation of landscape development.