Committee Chair

Spratt, Henry G., Jr.

Committee Member

Boyd, Jennifer N.; Hossain, A.K.M. Azad

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The high concentration of cliffs that permeate Tennessee’s South Cumberland Plateau (SCP) significantly influence the development, economy, and ecology of the region, yet little effort has been made to quantify these geophysical features. This study examined the use of LiDAR-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) to (1) create an exhaustive dataset of cliffs throughout a two-county study area within the SCP region and (2) better understand the implications of this quantification on conservation and rock climbing within the region. An impressive 428 km of total cliff line was modeled. Cliffs were GPS verified to an average error of ±13.9 m and a length RMSE = 91 m. The study determined 36% of cliffs in the study area lie on public lands, and 7% of cliffs are currently accessible for rock climbing. Results from this study clarify and reinforce the ecological and recreational significance of cliffs within the SCP region.

Acknowledgments

Research funded by the Cumberland Trails Conference

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2018

Subject

Geographic information systems; Geology -- Tennessee

Location

Cumberland Mountains.

Keyword

Cumberland Plateau; Cliffs; Rock climbing; Ecology; GIS; LiDAR

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xi, 42 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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