Terrain - A User's Guide - Land Capability


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	Terrain

Land Capability

The following table is intended as a very general guide to the physical capability of various kinds of terrain for particular land uses. The ratings given in columns 4 to 11 are based upon the physical properties of each type of surficial material. Many additional factors that influence land surface conditions vary considerably within individual terrain units and thus cannot be adequately assessed in a general manner. They include constraints, such as steep slopes and poor drainage, and natural hazards. These are indicated in columns 2 and 3 and should be considered in addition to the ratings of columns 4 to 11 for each terrain unit within any area under consideration.

A "desirable" rating should be interpreted as "some land within this terrain unit is capable of supporting light foundations (or unpaved roads, or ...); further investigations are necessary before detailed plans are finalized". A "possible problems" rating should be interpreted as "some land may be suitable for...". An "undesirable" rating indicates that terrain is generally unsuited for the indicated land use, although substantial modification of existing conditions (e.g. drainage, landfill) may overcome natural constraints.

Material	Constraints most likely to be encountered	Hazards most likely to be encountered	Light foundations (low rise dwellings)	Heavy foundations	Excavation
M basal till	drainage	-	D	D	P
gM ablation till	topography	-	D	D	D
F "inactive" fluvial	-	-	D	D	D
F^A "active" fluvial	drainage	floods, shifting channels	D	U	D
F^G glaciofluvial	topography	-	D	D	D
C colluvium (group 1 - see text)	slope	rockfall, debris flows avalanches	D	U	P
Cf debris flow fans	-	debris flows	D	D	D
Cm, Ch earthflows, slumps	drainage topography	slow flow	P	U	D
L, L^G lacustrine	drainage	erosion, slumping	D	U	D
W, W^G marine	drainage-	erosion, slumping	P	U	D
E eolian	-	-	D	U	D
0 organic	drainage	-	U	U	U
R bedrock	-	-	D	D	U

D - desirable, P - possible problems, U - undesirable

Material	Liquid waste disposal	Solid waste disposal	highways, railroads, airfields	Water storage above ground	Unpaved roads
M basal till	P	D	D	D	D
gM ablation till	P	U	D	U	D
F "inactive" fluvial	P	U	D	U	D
F^A "active" fluvial	U	U	D	P	D
F^G glaciofluvial	P	U	D	U	D
C colluvium (group 1 - see text)	U	U	U	U	D
Cf debris flow fans	P	U	D	P	D
Cm, Ch earthflows, slumps	P	P	U	U	P
L, L^G lacustrine	P	D	P	P	D
W, W^G marine	P	D	P	D	D
E eolian	P	U	D	U	D
0 organic	U	U	U	U	U
R bedrock	U	U	U	U	U

D - desirable, P - possible problems, U - undesirabl

Web Page Last Updated: February 6, 2007