Remote Sensing for Geologic Mapping in Eastern Cordillera, Colombia

Abstract

Geologic mapping in frontier areas can be done accurately and efficiently by integrating various remote sensing and photometric methods with field mapping. Interpretations of Landsat, airborne radar, and aerial photographs were integrated with field mapping to geologically map part of a northwest-directed fold-thrust belt in the Eastern Cordillera, southwest of Santafe de Bogota, Colombia. Each sensor provided particular advantages: (1) Landsat provided an accurate cartographic basemap, and the best source of regional cultural, physiographic, and regional formation mapping information (2) Airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provided the only cloudfree imagery and was optimal for regional mapping of structural geology because the radar beam's low illumination angle enhanced topographic relief. Qualitative structural information was obtained by stereographic viewing of overlapping flight strips. Map scale features recognized only on the SAR include: (a) the surface trace of a thrust fault, (b) an overturned anticline, and (c) a thrust structure produced by wedging or nappe emplacement (3) Aerial photographs were used to estimate bedding attitudes quantitatively, to resolve questionable geology, and to construct a 1:50,000 topographic map using standard photogrammetry. Transfer of dip and strike data from aerial photographs to cartographic base was accomplished by digitizing corresponding control points on each airphoto andmore » the base, and then removing distortion using a transformation algorithm derived empirically for each airphoto. These digital data, along with digitized field data, were projected into profile planes for cross section construction.« less