--> Spatial Delineation and Classification of Surficial Karst Manifestations Utilizing LiDAR, Fort Hood Military Installation, Central Texas

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Spatial Delineation and Classification of Surficial Karst Manifestations Utilizing LiDAR, Fort Hood Military Installation, Central Texas

Abstract

Lower Cretaceous strata of the Fredericksburg Group extend from southwestern through central Texas, in association with the Edwards Aquifer system. The Northern Edwards Aquifer occupies the Comanche Peak, Edwards, and Georgetown formations, which are collectively referred to as the Edwards Group. In both Bell and Coryell counties, Texas, these strata form outliers of the main aquifer system, where carbonate mounds developed on the margin of the main Edwards reef trend. As outliers of the main aquifer system, these regions are hydrogeologically and lithologically separated and thus have been poorly studied in the past.

This study encompasses approximately 885 km2 of the Fort Hood Military Installation and assesses the hydrogeology and associated karst development to assist in the refinement of best management practices for mechanized and infantry training. A multidisciplinary study was conducted that incorporated stratigraphy, geographic information systems (GIS), and field investigations to characterize regions of intense karst development for land management. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) interpolations were used in order to delineate sinkhole depressions and filtering parameters were developed to remove anthropogenic artifacts associated with infrastructure and past military operations. Field analyses were conducted to refine filtering protocols and karst density maps were produced. Combined spatial density maps of surficial karst manifestations coupled with field analyses has enabled the development of a speleogenetic model for karst throughout the Fort Hood Military Installation.