Oakland County Surface Geology & Hydrology

A Partnership Project with the Cranbrook Institute of Science

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Project Overview

A surface geology and hydrology map of Oakland County was created using Geographic Information System(GIS) technology. The first layer is a digital topography model of the county developed with data from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.  A surface geology layer was then draped over the digital topography.  The surface hydrology (i.e. rivers and lakes) was then added, followed by highways and municipal boundaries.

An appropriate digital surface geology layer of the entire county at the required scale was not available in the public domain. Therefore a geology model was compiled by using inferences from landform topography and published and unpublished sources. Particular emphasis was placed on the surface map of the County published by USGS geologists Twenter and Knutilla (1972) in a Geological Survey water resources paper.

Twenter, F.R. and Knutilla, R.L., 1972,
Water for a Rapidly Growing Community,
Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 2000.

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Steps to Create the Map

Step 1: Create a digital surface geology map

Field geologists and geographers worked to produce this map of surface geology for Oakland County. The map was converted to digital form using Geographic Information System technology.

Step 2: Create a digital terrain model

A digital terrain model is created by using horizontal (x, y) and vertical (z) positional data from Global Positioning Systems (GPS). This process uses location data measured using satellites to simulate the topography, or lay of the land.

Step 3: Overlay the geology map on top of the terrain model

The final product is a map of the surface geology deposits draped over the topography. This allows the viewer to see not only the types of deposits, but the shape of the land that is formed.

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Related Links

Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin: A Working Map and Classification

Michigan Presettlement Vegetation

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Credits

Surface geology compiled by John M. Zawiskie: Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Email: jzawiskie@cranbrook.edu

Geology GIS data and map layout assembled by Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Services - Environmental Stewardship Program

GIS base provided by Oakland County Department of Information Technology GIS Utility

Review of Geology Resource Guide materials in relation to Michigan Framework Curriculum Science Benchmarks provided by Oakland Schools

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Purchase the Map

A poster-sized version of the map is currently available in the Oakland County One Stop Shop for a cost of $20.