A Geospatial Visualisation of a Late Pleistocene Fluvial Wetland Surface in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia

  • Peter Glasby, Geology & Geophysics, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Anthony O'Flaherty, School of Land Information Management Systems, TAFESA, Australia
  • Within the Flinders Ranges of South Australia, best known for its long sequence of Neoproterozoic and Cambrian strata, there are also late Pleistocene fluvial sediments that have been the subject of recent investigation (Williams et al., 2001, Williams et al., 2006; Glasby et al., 2007). In this study we use Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS and topographic surveying techniques for data acquisition, integrate the survey data within a geographical information system (GIS) and build a 3-dimensional palaeo surface representing the uppermost sediments of a late Pleistocene fluvial wetland system. An analysis of sedimentary and landscape profiles indicate a continuous plane and sloping consistently down from east to west, suggesting that the remnants are still largely consistent with the original surface. An earlier study by Williams et al. (2001) showed that a series of cut and fill events followed depostion of the main formation. The use of geographical information systems for 2D and 3D analysis and visualisation in this study proved relevant to the interpretation of the landscape. We discuss the applicability of this approach to help elucidate the aggradation and broader landscape evolution of the area. Suggested improvements include AMS radiocarbon and OSL ages of middle and upper sedimentary units for future work are also discussed.