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 Jane Hodgkinson
Faculty of Science, Natural Resource Sciences
Thesis Title: Geological control of physiography in southeast Queensland: a multi-scale analysis using GIS
Current Thesis Abstract: Using methods that may be applied to any other region globally, or indeed extra-terrestrially where data are available, this study analyses the physiography of southeast Queensland to identify how it relates to geology from fine-scale rock fabric through to coarse-scale tectonic factors. The work was carried out by integration of various datasets on a geographic information system (GIS), including geology, structure, drainage, topography and earthquake locations. A new stream ordering system was developed for analysing the relationship between channel orientation and fine-scale rock fabric, including cleavage and bedding. Broad-scale drainage patterns were also analysed and the results provide strong evidence that many river systems in the region are geologically controlled.
A strong spatial correlation was found to exist between the orientation of some major rivers and valleys, fault systems and earthquake zones suggesting that neotectonic control of some landscape features in the region is also probable. Although some physiography clearly relates to known geological features, other physiographic features that were identified as non-random in form, showed no correlation.
This suggests the existence of presently unknown geological controls in the region. Various scales of spatial extent and of geological and physiographic features are considered in this geomorphological analysis of southeast Queensland.
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