[Geog_3080_Assignment 4]Terrain Mapping Report_Richmond Ho Shing Yu (T00017284)

Terrain Mapping South Thompson River, Valleyview,

Kamloops, BC

Geog 3080, Final Assignment

Terrain Mapping

Project No.: 80869-5354-689

Date: December 8th 2015

Format: e-copy

By: Richmond Ho Shing Yu (T00017284)

Geog 3080 Assignment December 7th 2015

Terrain Mapping Project No.:08069-5354-689

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Executive Summary

This is an academic exercise proposed by Crystal Huscroft to Richmond Ho Shing Yu in

the class of Geog 3080. The purpose of this project is to test out Richmond’s knowledge

acquired in lectures and lab sections of Geog 3080; by identifying geomorphic landform

and processes, along with mapping skill. In order to compute a terrain stability map,

Richmond will examine an air photo with a scale of 1:20000 under stereoscopic view. In

the process of creating a terrain stability map, Richmond will follow the terrain stability

mapping methods; includes, identifying surface materials and geomorphic processes and

features of Valleyview.



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Limitation

Richmond Ho Shing Yu prepares this report for Crystal Huscroft. The content of this report

reflects Richmond’s skill in scientific report writing, terrain mapping, and various types of

techniques that Richmond have acquired within lectures and lab sections of Geog 3080 in

Thompson Rivers University, fall semester of 2015. Finding in this report restricted as an

academic exercise of Goeg 3080. Also, observations and findings within this report is

computed by Richmond personally, content of this report should not be used under any

circumstances by any third party members.



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Table of Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 1

Limitation.......…………………………………………………………………………………….....2

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 4

Scope .................................................................................................................................................. 5

Terrain Stability Mapping ............................................................................................................... 7

Terrain Stability Mapping Method .............................................................................................. 7

Terrain Stability Polygon Variable.............................................................................................. 7

Terrain Stability Interpretation .................................................................................................... 7

Field Survey ...................................................................................................................................... 9

Locations .................................................................................................................................... 9

Juniper Ridge ........................................................................................................................... 10

Valleyview ............................................................................................................................... 12

Surface Materials ........................................................................................................................... 14

Glaciofluvial (FG) ...................................................................................................................... 14

Fluvial (F) ................................................................................................................................. 14

Colluvium (C) ......................................................................................................................... 14

Till (M) ..................................................................................................................................... 14

Glaciolacutrine (LG) ................................................................................................................. 15

Terrain Discerption ........................................................................................................................ 16

Interior Plateau of Kamloops ................................................................................................... 16

Mass Movement Description ......................................................................................................... 17

Colluvium Flow (f) .................................................................................................................. 17

Piping/Sub Surface Piping (P) .................................................................................................. 17

Gullying (V) .............................................................................................................................. 17

Washing/ Slopewash (W) ......................................................................................................... 17

Reference ......................................................................................................................................... 18



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Introduction

Project Description

This report is strictly an academic exercise that is computed for Crystal Huscroft. The aim

of this exercise is to test out Richmond’s knowledge that have acquired from lectures and

lab throughout the semester. In order to test out Richmond’s skill, Richmond will answer

the following criteria that is marked in the marking rubric of the project:

- Executive summary

- Limitation

- Project Description

- Scope of the project

- Description of surveyed location, and brief description of field survey

- Terrain stability mapping methods

- Description of surficial materials

- Description of terrain

- Terrain map presentation

- Basic report formatting



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Scope

Geog 3200, have appointed Richmond Ho Shing Yu to perform terrain stability mapping,

terrain stability interpretation, field surveys, terrain and field description of the Valleyview

area in Kamloops, BC, Canada (Figure 1).

The terrain stability mapping and terrain stability interpretation is being commenced on an

air photo retrieved from GeoBC, Airphoto Viewer via Google Earth. The following

information provides the information about the air photo:

Roll: 12BCD11302

Frame Number: 617

Photo Date: 2011-07-06

Photo Time: 12:56:49 PM

Media: Digital

Nominal Scale: 1:20000

Map sheet: 092i069 (Figure. 1 Airphoto of the studied area)

In order to examine the geomorphic features of the surveyed area, the air photo have been

printed with slightly larger scale of 1:29,000 than the origin retrieved from Google Earth

(1:20,000). Symbols that is used in the terrain map, describing terrain characteristics of

Valleyview, follows the format from “Terrain Classification System For British Columbia

1997, Version 2.” Symbols in this report follows the order of, surficial material, surface

expression, and process represented in polygons. The general picture of the studied area is

being portrayed by a location map made by iMap BC (Figure. 2).



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(Figure. 2 Location map of air photo of Valleyview, Kamloops, BC. Generated by

ImapsBC, edited via GIMP)



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Terrain Stability Map

Terrain Stability Mapping Methods

The method of terrain stability mapping, is being computed by stereoscopic observation of

an air photo. In this project, the air photo that is being chosen for stereoscopic observation

is an air photo retrieved from Google Earth. The scale of the air photo is a digital copy that

is approximately 1:20000 scale, taken in 2011-07-06.

The method of terrain stability mapping, is carried out by polygons in the terrain stability

map. A polygon is a unit that is expresses an area with similar surficial matter, geomorphic

process, and slope stability. In order to map out areas of similar landforms, symbols is

being applied to display the geological features of a certain polygon.

Terrain Polygon Variable

The size of polygon is being mapped at a scale of 1:29,000 map, the smallest appreciate

polygon size of this project is set to 0.5cm x 0.5cm. Therefore polygons that is less than

0.5cm x 0.5cm will not be evaluated.

Within a polygon in the terrain stability map, terrain symbols within a polygon indicates an

area with similar terrain characteristics. Symbols used within the polygons follows the

guide of “Terrain Classification System For British Columbia 1997 Version 2” by

“Fisheries Branch, Minister of Environment, and Surveys and Resource Mapping Branch

Minister of Crown lands Province of British Columbia.” The guide offers directions and

symbols about the surficial material, surface expression, and process in classifying

polygons in the terrain stability map.

Terrain Stability Interpretation

Terrain stability interpretation, is the process of describing steepness of the slope in a

polygon. In order to depict steepness of various slope in the studied map, slope are being

classified into classes ranging from, plain, gentle slope, moderate slope, moderately steep

slope, slope and steep slope shown by (Table. 1). In general terms, these slopes shares the

common a characteristics in unidirectional surfaces that can be either be straight, concave

or convex. Slopes appeared in terrain map maybe over exaggerated or distorted.



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(Table 1. Slope Classes)

Slope Class Description

I (Plain) (p) Polygon that displays a very gentle to no

slope surface. It may contain a slope

gradient ranging from 0° to 3°

II (Gentle Slope) (j) Polygon that displays a slope gradient that

ranges from 3° to 15°.

III (Moderate Slope) (a) Polygon that has a slope gradient of 15° to

26°.

IV (Moderately Steep Slope) (k) Polygon that has a slope gradient of 26° to

35°.

V (Steep Slope) (s) Polygon that has a slope gradient that

ranges from 35° or greater.



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Field Survey

Location

Field survey was taken place on Oct 21st 2015 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. The weather was

cloudy, windy, temperature ranges from 12C° to 4C°. The location surveyed are marked by

colored circles in the following map (Figure. 3). Throughout the survey, we have visited

two sites; a small hill located bedside the residential area in Juniper Ridge (marked by red

circle), and a small trail beside the hiking trail near the Valleyview arena and the bike trail

(marked by blue circle)

(Figure 3. Surveyed areas marked by red and blue circle, photo extracted via Google Earth)



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Juniper Ridge

Juniper Ridge is the first area, where Geog 3080 have vested. In this area, is it visible to

observe gullying in the lower portion of Juniper Ridge and Valleyview Arena (Figure. 4).

Within the surveyed vicinity, unconsolidated, unsorted, matrix supported (diamicton),

sediment is present. It is suggested that Till is present in the area, that is shown in (Figure.

5).

(Figure 4. Viewing Valleyview from Juniper Ridge)



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(Figure. 5 Till is present in the Juniper Ridge area, with a blanket to veneer of

unconsolidated material with vegetation is present.)



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Valleyview

Valleyview is the second surveyed location. Within the surveyed area, the gullied landform

generate steep slopes (Figure. 6), and the geological process of piping is presence show in

(Figure .7) (Figure. 8). Glaciolacustrine material is presence in the area, due to the

appearance of sinkholes and pipping; appearing in landscape of silt and sand.

(Figure. 6 Hiking trail beside Valleyview Arena, glaciolacustrine material and piping is

present showed by small holes on the steep gullied wall)

(Figure. 7 Close up shot of the gully wall in the hiking trail beside Valleyview Arena)



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(Figure. 8 A Sinkhole located on top of the terrace in terrace of Valleyview, this picture

suggested pipping is present in the area)



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Surface Materials

Surface Material

According to “Terrain Classification System For British Columbia 1997 Version 2”

contributed by “D. E. Howes and E. Kenk”. Surficial materials are being defined as “non-

lithified, unconsolidated sediment” that are produced by various activites like weathering,

erosion and many more process parent material.

“Surficial materials are defined as non-lithified, unconsolidated sediments. They are produced by

weathering, sediment deposition, biological accumulation, human and volcanic activity.” (Howes,

Kenk, 1997).

Throughout the survey, there are various types of material are being identified in different

locations. Different types of material reflects the geological history. The following surface

material found in surveyed sites and observing air photo. It is suggested that, Valleyview

was located on the floor of a glacial lake.

Glaciofluvial (FG)

Glaciofluvial sediments is a glacial material that is made up of sands and gravel,

transported by glacial melt water. Glaciofluvial material is can be found in terraces above

river level.

Fluvial (F)

Fluvial material, is a type of material that is made up of sand and gravel, deposited and

transported by river discharge. Likewise, the process that transport fluvial sediment may

include, deposition and transportation includes solution, suspended sediment transport and

bed load transport that occurs in active floodplains.

Colluvium (C)

Colluvium are material that are transported down slope by mass/slope movement, due to

earth’s gravity. Material in colluvium may vary from till, bedrocks and other materials that

can be found on slopes. Colluvium materials may be found in process of mass movement

motions like, avalanching (ice/snow or sand/dust), toppling or falling.

Till (M)

Till is a material that is deposited by glaciers. The characteristic of till consist of

unconsolidated, unsorted, matrix supported clast that consist of a mixture of clay, sand and

sand matrix.



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Glaciolacutrine (LG)

Glaciolacustrine are material that is deposited into a lake ice the presence of glacial ice; for

example sediment of ice dammed lakes. This sediment consist of sand, silt and clay.



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Terrain Discerption

Interior Plateau of Kamloops

Kamloops is an interesting area that is composed of varieties of geological materials.

According to a brochure, published by the mystery of Kamloops, “GeoTour Guide For

Kamloops, British Columbia”, written by “R.J.W Turner, R.G Anderson, M Cathro, C.

Huscroft, E. Frey and K. Favrholdt.” The timeline of Kamloops’s geological history can be

described in the following:

1) Limestones, mudstone and volcanic rock, that are found on top of glaicalfluvial

sediment and terraces, have suggested that Kamloops was once located under the

sea floor.

2) North American tectonic plate pushes the seafloor and volcanic westward, as the

Atlantic Ocean began to open. This causes the plates to collide with each other.

3) As the North American tectonic plate pushes the Atlantic Ocean plate westward, it

causes formed mountains.

4) Volcanoes eruption forms plateau. This is where volcanic deposits covers the

mountains landscapes of Kamloops

5) Ice Age arrives to Kamloops, this is where ice sheets carved modern valleys.

6) The end of Ice Age caused glacier ice to melt. Potentially melted ice water form

gullies, and glaciolacustrine sediments.

7) Glacier have completely melted, this is where rivers carved the present landscape of

Kamloops.



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Mass Movement Description

Colluvium Flow (f)

Colluvium flow is a type of mass movement, which transports ranging from rock, soil, debris,

and earth material downslope, by over saturation of pore pressure in soil. Moreover,

colluvium flow produced colluvium “fan”.

Piping/Sub Surface Pipping (P)

Piping is mass movement that is related with sinkholes. Likewise, both geologic phenomenon

occurs in area of fine silt, and sand. This is where over saturation of pore pressure in soil

causes a downward collapse of material in a vertical void.

Gullying (V)

Gullying is a rectangular, V-shaped landform, with deep head scarps. The process of gullying

involves movement of water; this is where high volume of water cuts and form drainage

channels.

Washing/ Slopewash (W)

Washing/slopewash, is a type of mass movement that transport material by

flowing water down slopes.



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Reference

Geological Survey Canada. (2008). GeoTour Guide For Kamloops, British Columbia

[Brochure]. Author. Retrieved December 15, 2015, from

http://www.kamloops.ca/pdfs/brochures/KamloopsGeoTour.pdf

Trenhaile, A. S. (2013). Geomorphology: A Canadian perspective (Fifth ed.). Don Mills,

Ont.: Oxford University Press.

Howes, D. E., & Kenk, E. (1997). Surface Materials. TERRAIN CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA VERSION 2 1997, 10-25. Retrieved December 16,

2015, from

https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/risc/pubs/teecolo/terclass/terclass_system_1997.pdf

Google earth V 7.1.5.1557 (August 4, 2012). Valleyview, Kamloops, BC, Canada. 50° 40’

08.449’ N, 120° 15.181” W, Eye alt 6.07km. Image City of Kamloops 2015.

https://www.google.com/maps/@50.67415,-120.25302,12072m/data=!3m1!1e3 [December

15th 2015]

http://www.kamloops.ca/pdfs/brochures/KamloopsGeoTour.pdf

https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/risc/pubs/teecolo/terclass/terclass_system_1997.pdf

https://www.google.com/maps/@50.67415,-120.25302,12072m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Geog_3080_Assignment 4]Terrain Mapping Report_Richmond Ho Shing Yu (T00017284)

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