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Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2021
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| _version_ | 1867613838380105728 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Lines, Harry Alexander |
| author2 | Tucker, Ryan T. |
| author_browse | Lines, Harry Alexander Tucker, Ryan T. |
| author_facet | Tucker, Ryan T. Lines, Harry Alexander |
| author_sort | Lines, Harry Alexander |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/110340 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:30.205Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/110340 Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings Lines, Harry Alexander Tucker, Ryan T. Govender, Romala Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Earth Sciences. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) -- Modelling Palaeontology Fossils sites Fossil localities -- South Africa -- West Coast Fossil Park -- Langebaanweg Fossil localities -- Central Utah (USA) -- Cedar Mountain Formation UCTD Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. This thesis explores the application of GIS-based predictive modelling to the field of Palaeontology. A universal methodology based on a multi-variate analysis of five environmental variables is presented. The incorporated environmental datasets were successfully acquired from a variety of publicly accessible online sources related to each study area. Our methodology was based on previous studies and expanded upon previous approaches to suitability modelling in the context of fossil prospecting. All stages of modelling were conducted within the ArcGIS software package and could be closely reproduced in alternative free software packages such as QGIS. Environmental variables were reclassified to a universal suitability scale of 1 to 20 and then amalgamated into a singular suitability analysis using the Weighted Overlay tool. The produced model was tested on two well documented fossil localities – The West Coast Fossil Park near Langebaanweg (South Africa) and the Cedar Mountain Formation of Central Utah (USA). After successfully classifying known fossil sites in both study areas, the model was applied to a largely unexplored and undocumented region – The Skeleton Coast of North-West Namibia. From the resultant model, 5 sites were identified and suggested for the 2021 expedition season. All models resulted in significant reductions in the prospective ground of each study area, ranging between 54% and 99%. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2021-02-08T11:51:11Z 2021-04-22T11:41:51Z 2022-01-01T03:00:08Z 2021-04 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110340 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 68 pages : illustrations (some color), maps application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) -- Modelling Palaeontology Fossils sites Fossil localities -- South Africa -- West Coast Fossil Park -- Langebaanweg Fossil localities -- Central Utah (USA) -- Cedar Mountain Formation UCTD Lines, Harry Alexander Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title | Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title_full | Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title_fullStr | Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title_short | Application of GIS-based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high-risk/high-reward geographic settings |
| title_sort | application of gis based suitability modelling to predict fossil sites in high risk high reward geographic settings |
| topic | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) -- Modelling Palaeontology Fossils sites Fossil localities -- South Africa -- West Coast Fossil Park -- Langebaanweg Fossil localities -- Central Utah (USA) -- Cedar Mountain Formation UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110340 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT linesharryalexander applicationofgisbasedsuitabilitymodellingtopredictfossilsitesinhighriskhighrewardgeographicsettings |