| Title | TRAILS: collaborative permafrost terrain mapping, Dempster and Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highways corridor |
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| Author | Sladen, W E; Morse, P D ; Kokelj, S V; Smith, S L; Jardine, S; Kokoszka, J; van
der Sluijs, J; Parker, R |
| Source | 2017 Yellowknife Geoscience Forum, abstract and summary volume; by Irwin, D; Gervais, S D; Terlaky, V; Northwest Territories Geological Survey, Yellowknife Geoscience Forum Abstract and Summary Volume
2017, 2017 p. 111-112  Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne
(complete volume - volume complet, pdf, 1.69 MB)
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2017 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20180174 |
| Publisher | Northwest Territories Geological Survey |
| Meeting | 45th Annual Yellowknife Geoscience Forum; Yellowknife, NT; CA; November 13-16, 2017 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Northwest Territories; Yukon |
| NTS | 106E; 106F; 106K; 106L; 106M; 106N; 107B; 107C |
| Area | Dempster Highway; Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway; Arctic Ocean |
| Lat/Long WENS | -135.0000 -133.0000 69.5000 65.7500 |
| Subjects | surficial geology/geomorphology; environmental geology; engineering geology; Transport; geophysics; Nature and Environment; permafrost; ground ice; thermal analyses; remote sensing; climate, arctic;
Infrastructures; Climate change; Management; Decision making; Methodology |
| Program | Climate Change
Geoscience Permafrost |
| Released | 2017 11 01 |
| Abstract | Together, the Dempster (DH) and Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk (ITH) highways create Canada's northernmost all-season road and the only one to provide access to the Arctic Ocean. The combined 870-km-long
corridor traverses a variety of glaciated and non-glaciated terrain through Yukon and Northwest Territories, ranging from the Ogilvie Mountains in the south to the Arctic Coastal Plain in the north. Permafrost is continuous in 91 % of the corridor,
but the varied relief, climate, vegetation, forest fire regimes, and landscape histories nevertheless have produced highly variable permafrost conditions. The technology and awareness of climate change in 1979, when the DH opened, contrast sharply
with those that prevailed during the development of the soon-to-be-opened ITH, and a number of geotechnical challenges remain. Though the ITH was well investigated, many questions also remain regarding the role of glacial legacy and post-glacial
landscape modifications on contemporary terrain sensitivity and embankment performance.
The Transportation Resilience in the Arctic Informed by Landscape Systems (TRAILS) research activity, Natural Resources Canada, operates in partnership with
territorial and academic institutions, including the Northwest Territories Geological Survey and Department of Infrastructure, and also with the support of Transport Canada. The purpose is to conduct innovative permafrost research to address
questions regarding landscape change in order to inform infrastructure management decisions. The DH-ITH corridor provides a landscape transect for conducting multidisciplinary research on permafrost thermal conditions, terrain sensitivity, and
climate change impacts on terrain and infrastructure.
A primary goal of TRAILS is to improve permafrost terrain and surficial geology maps by developing a robust classification scheme and mapping methodology. In May 2017, we initiated a terrain
mapping exercise using very high-resolution imagery and LiDAR data to identify geomorphological features and landscape types within the 10-km-wide corridor. The imagery is rendered in 3-D with Summit 3D software, and digitized features are input
directly to ArcGIS using DAT/EM's Capture Interface. To date, 13 images, comprising 445 km (51 %) of the corridor, have been orthorectified and pan-sharpened, and 4 images (24 %) have been rendered in 3-D. Six test sections have been mapped to test
and refine mapping methodology. Additional feature attributes will be assigned according to available geoscience data including surficial and bedrock geology, fire history, and drainage basin. These data will provide an important platform for
understanding ground ice distribution and testing/validating remote sensing tools, and will facilitate assessment of landscape change and revision of the local surficial geology. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The purpose of the GSC's collaborative Transportation Resilience in the Arctic Informed by Landscape Systems (TRAILS) activity is to conduct cutting edge
permafrost research with Territorial and Academic partners to address questions regarding permafrost landscape change and inform infrastructure management decisions. TRAILS - Permafrost Mapping focusses on the the Dempster and Inuvik to Tutoyaktuk
highway corridor, treating it as a landscape transect for conducting multidisciplinary research on permafrost thermal conditions, terrain sensitivity, and climate change impacts on terrain and infrastructure. The research is predicated on development
of high quality surficial and terrain maps by developing a robust classification scheme and mapping methodology. The mapping and methodology to date are discussed. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 308497 |
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