This manual provides guidelines for terrain mapping (see Section 1.2) in the province of British Columbia. These guidelines and standards have been prepared under the auspices of the Surficial Geology Task Group (SGTG), a part of the Earth Science Task Force of the Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). RIC is a Canada - British Columbia Partnership Agreement on Forest Resource Development. Its' overall purpose is the improvement of provincial resource data bases in order to facilitate effective land management. Objectives of the SGTG are to identify terrain information (e.g. surficial geology, and geological hazards) that is needed by resource managers and to define standards for terrain mapping and data collection. Tasks also include the testing of standards, training of personnel, minimization of duplication of effort, promotion of cooperative data collection, improvement of availability of terrain information, encouragement of broad application of the data and maintenance of its long-term relevance.
Terrain (surficial geology) maps are relevant to forestry and to many other aspects of land management, land use planning and resource use, park development, wildlife management and mineral exploration. The use of information about surfcial materials, geomorphological processes and other aspects of terrain is expected to increase during the next decade as environmental concerns expand. Mapping for many specific purposes, such as slope stability, groundwater, seismic zonation, and biophysical habitat inventory, depends on basic terrain mapping and will benefit from the guidelines in this document.
The major objective of this manual is to define common standards and methods for the collection and presentation of terrain data. Terminology follows that of Cormier (1992; see also Appendices B and C). The manual also provides background information that can be used for training terrain mappers. Standards for terrain mapping and presentation of terrain data are provided in the form of a methodology for the preparation of terrain maps. Standards and requirements, for essential fundamental information and procedures, necessary to meet the guidelines, are clearly listed in bordered boxes as Minimum Requirements. The standards defined in these guidelines shall be followed in all terrain mapping in the province of British Columbia (see summary list in Appendix A). The sequence of actions necessary for mapping, such as air photo interpretation and field checking are described, and matters such as map scale and survey intensity are discussed. The terrain classification system that is used for mapping has been previously published (Howes and Kenk, 1988) and is not repeated here. The 1988 manual provides definitions for the symbols that are used on terrain maps and instructions for their use. Thus the 1988 "terrain classification manual" and this publication -- a "guidelines and standards manual" -- are complementary and all terrain mappers must be familiar with both.
This manual also provides descriptions of how terrain mapping methodology can be modified for special purposes. For example, extra components can be added to the map symbols to accommodate additional parameters, such as depth to bedrock and age of materials. Other aspects of terrain analysis, such as the preparation of derivative maps, report writing, and digital data storage, are briefly covered. Although this manual and the terrain classification manual together describe a system of terrain mapping that has been widely used in British Columbia, neither the methodology nor the classification system is specific to this province and could well be used elsewhere, especially in similar glaciated landscapes.
Preparation of this manual was initiated by Dr. P. T. Bobrowsky. Specifications for terrain mapping were defined during a two-day meeting of the Surficial Geology Task Group Committee in February 1993. Committee members included P. Bobrowsky (chair), R. Buchanan, S. Chatwin, J. Clague, R. Fulton, D. Howes, R. Reger, N. Rutter, J. Ryder, E}. VanDine. (For affiliations and addresses, see Appendix H.) The results and minutes of this meeting were first compiled by J. Ryder and D. VanDine (under contract), and then underwent revision by the task group committee. Additional useful comments and suggestions were subsequently received by M. Bloodgood, B. Broster, D. Goldthorp, G. Horel, H. Luttmerding, P. Jordan, P. Matysek, J. Psutka and M. Roed who are not committee members.