1. INNOVATION IN GEOSCIENCE
WET AREA MAPPING

2. PROVISION OF FOUR PLANNING TOOLS
FLOOD: delineating likely extent of
flood extent, depending on flooding
type (coastal, riverine, streams,
depressions), with an without
hydrological infrastructure intact.
LOCATE: tool to rank hydrological
infrastructure (culvert, bridges, storm
water systems) by capacity to
accommodate expected, weather-
dependent flow rates .
TRAIL: optimizing trail and
road routing tool and lineal
projects
SPILL: tracking likely
path of water-borne
contaminants from spill
source

3. KNOWLEDGE BASE
FURTHERING ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

4. How can we manage the challenge of uncertainty (future flood scenarios, precautionary principle)?
• Using maps layers that locate flood vulnerabilities within specific community and property contexts
• Systematically locate, quantify and risk-prioritize flow blockages:
• depressions,
• eroding slopes and stream channels,
• flow blockages (roads, dams, dykes, culverts, bridges, stream and river narrows)
• systematic mapping of the changing permafrost conditions
• Reduce flow rates through
• trail and road decommissioning
• restrict developments in floodplains, wetlands and depression
• soil protection
• stretch snowmelt season through watershed-based management of forest / vegetation cover
Improve flood forecasting and mapping through systematic GPS-GIS capture and analysis of flood events and damage reports; includes
integration of river watch programs and activities
Mapping inland to coastal flooding: streams, rivers, lakes

5. Findings appropriate for utilization
on delineating corridors within
Permafrost Zone
ForHyM enables the modelling of
soil moisture and freeze thaw cycles
within the Fort Simpson area, and
elsewhere.
The cartographic DEM-based depth-
to-water modelling protocol
enables a systematic
mapping of the upland-wetland
distribution.
This modelling would also enable a
systematic mapping of the changing
permafrost conditions.
ECOSCIENCE, 2014
Modeling hydrothermal regimes and potential
impacts of climate change on permafrost within
the South Mackenzie Plain, Northwest Territories,
Canada.
DTW varies from near zero
(dark red to 1 m pink)

6. SPILL TOOLTracking likely path of water-borne contaminants
cc: Travis S. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/51378257@N00

7. LiDAR-based Wet Areas: Rainbow Pipeline Spill Assessment: Incident Site 50 km upstream of Nipisi

9. FLOOD TOOL
Delineating likely extend of flood1
cc: raymond_zoller - https://www.flickr.com/photos/98479469@N00

10. Hydrological risk mapping deals with locating and delineating areas where there would be potential
risks in terms of flooding, wash-out, erosion, mudslides and avalanches. Planners working with
industry, municipalities and developers are aware of these risks but do require good mapping tools that
reveal these risks in a fairly reliable fashion and in sufficient detail.
Hydro-Risk Mapping

11. The corresponding depth-to-
water wet- areas maps,
associated with each of these
channel networks, showing
where water would,
cartographically, be within 1 m
from the soil surface next
to each flow channel, lake, and
shore line.
The areas that would
potentially flood when all
culverts and bridges are
plugged, and when they are
not plugged.
The areas that would flood
when the water level along the
main flow channels rises to
and beyond historical levels.

13. LOCATE TOOL
Rank hydrological infrastructure
cc: GOLZER - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64794385@N05

14. Legend
Stream/Road Crossings,
upstream Watershed Area in km2
446 - 570
571 - 711
712 - 2057
2058 - 4765
4766 - 12495
Streams with 4000hs Flow Initiation
Road Layer from Open Street Map
5m DTW at 4000ha Flow Initiation
0.0 – 0.5
0.5 – 1.0
1.0 – 2.5
2.5 – 5.0
CHUQUICAMATA COPPER MINE
CHILE, 2015

15. Flow Threshold
4 ha
Crossings
Roads
Streams
Depth-to-water
(0 to 1 m) + watershed
areas at stream-road
crossings for forest and
urban areas
CITY OF
VALPARAISO, CHILE
2015

16. TRAIL TOOLLineal projects, road, rail, electrical towers etc.
cc: v1ctory_1s_m1ne - https://www.flickr.com/photos/80221456@N00

17. TRIAL Wet Area Mapping Tool Extension
Trial is an extension of a wet area mapping
(WAM) GIS/LIDAR allowing users to improve
road and routes placements, integrate WAM
with user priorities and expand WAM usage into
new areas.
MINING OPERATION, CERRO AZUL, VENEZUELA 2011

18. WAM & CLIMATE CHANGE
Integrating Climate and Disaster Risk into Development
cc: ChrisGoldNY - https://www.flickr.com/photos/34325628@N05

19. MINING AND CLIMATE CHANGE

20. Climate Vulnerability
CLIMATE CHANGE IMMUNIZATION
• Infrastructure Protection
• Relocation
• Flood mitigation
• Responding to emergencies
• Business continuity plans
SYNERGY BETWEEN
ADAPTATION & MITIGATION
• Preservation of hydrological
surface currents
• Mitigation of hydrological
extremes
• Retention of soils and sediments
• Support productivity and
biodiversity
• Maintenance and purification of
• Adaptation policies, plans and practices
• Designing flood defenses and flood storage
• Design additional roads in flood situation
• Improve drainage
It requires a study of climate vulnerability. Thus produce climate
immunization through:
WATER CONSERVATION
CLIMATE CHANGE AND
CANADIAN MINING
NORTHERN CANADA:
• In the winter, the region of Hudson
Bay and the southern portion of
the Foxe Basin are projected to
see the largest winter temperature
increases of any region in
Canada.
• In the summer, the temperatures
in the Foxe Basin and Hudson Bay
regions are projected to increase
less than the rest of Northern
Canada.
• Precipitation will generally
increase across Northern Canada,
more so in the winter and
increasing over time.
Climate Change and Canadian Mining: Opportunities for Adaptation, David Susuki Foundation, 2009