Abstract

Environmental Management Associates is a diversified enviromnental consulting company. With the heightened awareness regarding the environment, our clients are frequendy requesting that considerable effort be expended at the project planning stage in determining the environmental and cultural resource sensitivity of various areas. A Geographic Information System is used to predict the potential for varions re-sources, thereby allowing the client to choose the least sensitive options for detailed assessment. This paper examines how GIS bas been used to establish the archaeological resource sensitivity using an example from a valley in the Canadian Rockies. Completing this project involved examining known sites for common characteristics. Subsequently, the study area was modelled in 3D to determine slope and aspect and water bodies were buffed at 100 and 200 metres. Certain landforms such as alluvial fans known to have sites associated with them were also given a high potential rating. The attributes were weighted and the scores were summed to determine overall site potential. Because this valley has generally high sensitivity for both environmental and cultural resources throughout, the proponent will be able to focus further states of the route selection process on areas where the overall sensitivity is most manageable.