Identifying Building Sites in Summit County, Colorado: Geography, Geology, and Gis
IDENTIFYING BUILDING SITES IN SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO: GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND GIS A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment for The Degree Masters of Science in The Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kelly Ann Barrett ******* The Ohio State University 2009 Master’s Examination Committee: Dr. Douglas E. Pride, Adviser Approved by Dr. Franklin Schwartz ___________________________ Adviser Dr. E. Scott Bair Geological Science Graduate Program i ii ABSTRACT A Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed to identify future home and business sites in Summit County, Colorado, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The permanent population is projected to be 31,500 by 2010, an increase of 25 percent from 2000 (Colorado Department of Local Affairs Demography Section). Also, in the winter the population of the county may increase to 150,000 or more during peak ski weekends (Summit County Planning Department, 2003). The county will continue development to accommodate the growing population and tourists that flock to ski resorts and other vacation facilities in this very popular and accessible region. The GIS developed here includes data for: land ownership, topography (slope and aspect), bedrock and surficial geology, soil types, presence and orientation of bedrock lineaments, locations of water wells, culture (cities, roads, emergency facilities, etc.), and city and county zoning regulations. By incorporating and correlating features of all of these, it was possible to identify areas within Summit County that can accommodate increases in permanent population and the surges that characterize the tourist industry in Colorado. Because of its location in the high country of Colorado, about 80 percent of the county (496 sq mi of a total 620 sq mi) is administered by the U.S.
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