Terrain Stability Mapping

Introduction

Description:  Terrain Stability Mapping (TSM) is a RISC standard approach used to delineate areas of stable and/or unstable terrain including the assessment of the probability and any associated risks of landslides occurring. For information on FIA eligibility see: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hcp/fia/landbase/index.htm. For Resource Inventory Activity Area Expectations see: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hcp/fia/landbase/activities/resource_inventories.htm

Process: All projects will require an auditable workplan, clearly stating project objectives, methodology, and deliverables. The Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Guidelines for Developing a Project Plan (PDF 232KB) provide an outline of the recommended process and a list of potential considerations pertaining to overall TEI project planning. (TEI projects include Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping, Predictive Ecosystem Mapping, Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory, Bioterrain, Terrain, Landslide Inventory, Terrain Stability Mapping,  Wildlife Habitat Ratings, Species Distribution Modelling, and Soils projects.)  Recipients of FIA funding are required under their agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to adhere to RISC standards, LBIP Standards, or an approved variance from the standards. A request for variance must be submitted to PwC who may then forward that request to the data custodian for review.

Delivery:  Project deliverables must in accordance with the Mandatory Standards listed below. All deliverables must be submitted to the appropriate data repository and the data custodian must be notified following the submission (see the Terrestrial Ecosystem (TEI) Information Data Submission page for details). Note, prior to data submission, a unique business area project identification number (BAPID), must be obtained from the data custodian (if a BAPID has not already been provided). The BAPID number is required for dataset/digital file identification. Requests for BAPID numbers should only be made once the detailed project plan is in place (see the Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI)  Guildelines for Developing a Project Plan (PDF 232KB) for further information regarding this process).

Standards & Related Documents: The links below provides on-line access to the standards and other related documents including strategies, best practices, guidelines, and reports.

Before the commencement of any base mapping project, recipients must complete the Standard Operating Procedure. The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to provide direction to government agencies and partners with Government, in the documentation and procedures to be followed during the planning and implementation of mapping projects, inclusive of any aspect that relates to base mapping. The SOP will be applicable to mapping projects which have any component of Government funding for air photos, scanning, ortho photos, aerial triangulation and data exchanges involving such data.

Project Planning

Terrestrial Ecosystem Information Guidelines for Developing a Project Plan (PDF 232KB)

Mandatory Standards (For All Projects Within This Eligible Activity)

	•	Guidelines and Standards to Terrain Mapping in BC (1996) (Note: Contact soilterrain@victoria1.gov.bc.ca for current sources of terrain maps and information.)
	•	Terrain Stability Mapping in BC: A review and suggested methods for landslide hazard and risk mapping – final draft (1996)
	•	Terrain Classification System for British Columbia (1997) (Note: Use Standard for Digital Terrain Data –Errata 2006-1.1 for list of valid codes.)
	•	Standard for Digital Terrain Data Capture Errata 2006-1.1 (Accompanies the 1998 RIC Standard and provides information on new digital data formats and data submission requirements.) (PDF 542KB)
	•	Standard for Digital Terrain Data Capture in British Columbia Version 1 (1998) Digital deliverable file formats are superseded by Errata 2006-LBIP1. Contains tables describing allowable terrain codes with their definitions and a list of Feature Codes for terrain features, both of which remain valid except as noted in Errata 2006-1-LBIP.)
	•	Land Based Investment Program Forest Investment Account Data Management Standard - Data Exchange/Submission of Resource Inventories (PDF 45.3KB)
	•	Terrestrial Ecosystem Iinformation Digital Data Submission Standard - Draft for Field Testing, 2010 (PDF 1.82MB)

Project Specific Standards

	•	Landslide Classification and Inventory System for British Columbia with Digital Standards-DRAFT 1, 2007 - available from soilterrain@victoria1.gov.bc.ca
	•	Quality Assurance Guidelines for Terrain Stability Mapping (PDF 405KB)

Other Related Information

Please note: Due to government reorganization, Ministry or other agency names, contacts, and website URL's, located within documents listed above may have changed since document publication. If current contacts, URL's, or other information is required, please contact soilterrain@victoria1.gov.bc.ca.