Development of A GPS Geomorphologic Field Work System

Jenn-Taur Lee

Abstract:	between Erasia continental plate and Philippine sea plate. Owiug to the eKects of strong diastrophism weak geology, steep slope and abundant rainfall,’ alluvial fans are developed well along the major valley and the fault valley. According to the previous research results, morphology of alluvial fan is related to drainage basin area, intermontane basin area, relief ratio, climate condition, sedimentary environment, vertical displacement, and others. The living village and cultivated field in the alluvial fan are frequently destroyed with torrential storm during the typhoon seasons. In order to prevent the natural disaster and organize a better urban planning, the understanding of geomorphologic characteristics, such as distribution, morphology, sediment situation, and evolution, of alhtvial fan is very important. GPS is a new type of positioning technique which has many advantages, e.g., all weather, worldwide, easy use, etc.. In addition, the three dimensional coordinates are obtained simultaneously. Therefore, GPS may be used to locate the alluvial fan, longitudinal valley, fault valley, drainage basin, intermontane basin, and other geomorphologic features in digital format which assists the geomorphologic study in a modem way. It is so called digital geomorphology. The integration of GPS and geomorphology is a tremendous contribution to the geomorphologic study and also to satellite positioning technology. The objective of this project is to develop a practical, economical, and accurate geomotphologic field work system using GPS and related techniques. The fundamental hardware is Trimble Pa&finder GPS receivers and the interface was made for this project. The evaluation of this field work system was performed with point, line, area experiments in addition to an investigation of alluvial fans along the eastern coast of Taiwan. Fortunately, the geomorphologic field work system is successful and fully operational, which may provide effectiveness and efficiency in modem geomorphologic study.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996) September 17 - 20, 1996 Kansas City, MO
Pages:	1275 - 1282
Cite this article:	Lee, Jenn-Taur, "Development of A GPS Geomorphologic Field Work System," Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996), Kansas City, MO, September 1996, pp. 1275-1282.
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