APPLICATION AND EVALUATION OF A DETAILED GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING APPROACH IN A SELECTED NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT

Geomorphological mapping is a fundamental approach to understand the property and formation of the earth surface. To date, there have been no published attempts to apply structured, detailed geomorphological mapping systems in New Zealand's characteristic mountain environment. This study aims to evaluate the applicability of the perhaps most sophisticated and structured of these mapping systems, the German Geomorphologische Karte 1:25 000 (GMK 25) in its 5^th (translated) version. The adaption of the system and its incorporation with ArcGIS is facilitated by its multi-layered concept. A part of the highly active and mountainous terrain of the upper Waimakariri Gorge was selected to be mapped using GMK 25 as a trial. This location features a mix of active and relict features, literature available regarding glacial history, and accessibility for undergraduate research. The approach proved successful with adaptations of the original system based on the availability of third party data and the current potential of ArcGIS. It is concluded that GMK 25 is useful in the New Zealand mountain environment, but more trials with varying levels of expertise seem necessary to properly determine applicability within the geomorphological community.