Preface Introduction Getting Started About the CD-ROM Contacts

INTRODUCTION

The Southeastern Cordillera NATMAP commenced field mapping in 1993. This program involved mapping both bedrock and surficial geology in southern Alberta. The project area consists of 12 NTS map sheets compiled at 1:50,0000 scale (NTS - National Topographic System) extending from the international border to Turner Valley. The project area includes the Foothills of southwestern Alberta and contiguous areas of the Interior Plains and the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges. Field observations have been completed for the surficial geology and the results are contained on this CD-ROM.

Index map of the 12 1:50,000 map sheets

The Foothills and adjacent parts of the Rocky Mountains are areas of numerous and sometimes conflicting land uses. Many of these land uses may have potential impacts on the natural environment (e.g., oil leaks, sewage and solid waste disposal, construction of reservoirs, and over grazing with resulting increases in erosion). One of the basic requirements for intelligent planning and regulation of land use is an understanding of the surficial geology.

In the Foothills area, the surficial (unconsolidated) deposits are largely the products of the events of the last Ice Age. From a scientific point of view, the events of the last Ice Age are unique. The Foothills are among the few areas of the earth where two great ice sheets, one from the Rocky Mountains and the other from the Canadian Shield, interacted. Scientists for the better part of a century have debated the nature and timing of those interactions. This NATMAP provided an opportunity to settle this fascinating chapter of the geologic history of Canada. For more information please refer to the GSC Report (in press):

Quaternary Stratigraphy and Geology of the Foothills Southwestern Alberta
Jackson, L.E., Jr., Leboe, E.R, Little, E.C., Holme, P.J., Hicock, S.R., Shimamura, K.


The CD-ROM includes data in several formats for different users. The CD was produced with two types of users in mind: 1) casual user that just wants to view data, and 2) GIS professionals. For the first user (casual) the data has been prepared for easy view using SurView in Microsoft® Windows® environment right from the CD without installing any applications on the user's computer. More information about using SurView please select the menu item Getting Started (located above) for more help. For the GIS professional the data is available as ESRI® Arc/Info® 7.1.2 coverages, Arc export files (e00), and Arc Shape files for ArcView® (shp). Please refere to the menu item About the CD (located above) for more information. The CD is an ISO9660 format which means that the files and directory can be read on the Windows platform and UNIX® platform (Note: SurView can only be run through a Windows platform).

TRADEMARKS:
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
ESRI, ARC/INFO, and ArcView are registered trademarks of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
UNIX is a registered trademark of X/Open Company Limited.

 

Preface - Introduction - Getting Started - About the CD - Contacts

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2000. Disclaimer and Copyright.

Natural Resources Canada GSC  Terrain Sciences Division SE Cordillera NATMAP Project Area