INTEGRATING REMOTE SENSING, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

As the integrated use of remote sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data for landform mapping in mountain environments increases, there is a need to develop standardised research methods to allow comparison between studies. The methodology presented here uses remote sensing, GPS and GIS for mapping landform features in the mountains of North Wales. The methodology addresses several issues concerned with data integration, including the integration of data sets of different spatial resolution [near-metre level GPS accuracy compared to tens of metres with satellite imagery]. The benefits of using each of the technologies for feature detection at differing scales is also discussed. In addition, the added value of integrating information from the different approaches and its validity in appropriately answering geomorphic questions is considered. The preliminary results of applying this approach to glacial landform mapping in Snowdonia, North Wales are described and a comparison made between geomorphological maps created using this approach and those produced by more traditional techniques. In addition, a number of issues are addressed which are pertinent to extending this approach to the identification and mapping of glacial landforms for the purposes of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and the development of a sediment budget in a Mediterranean mountain environment