Tracking of grade alteration on The Oak Ridges Moraine

Understanding how landscapes change over time is crucial for safeguarding ecologically sensitive areas like the Oak Ridges Moraine. Here we take a closer look at how a longitudinal analysis of terrain elevation can reveal subtle yet significant landform changes within the Moraine’s Conservation Planning Area. By comparing elevation data from different time periods, drawn from both historical and modern digital elevation models, we can uncover patterns of erosion, grading, filling, and other modifications that often go unnoticed at ground level.

Sources

• Provincial Digital Elevation Model (PDEM)
• Ontario Classified Point Cloud (Lidar-Derived) (2016-2024 DEM)
• Ontario Digital Terrain Model (Lidar-Derived) (2024-2016–DTM)
• Ontario Digital Elevation Model (Imagery-Derived) (2017-2013–DEM)
• Ontario Digital Surface Model (Imagery-Derived) 2010)
• Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Digital Elevation Model 2002
• University of Waterloo Geospatial Centre
• NOAA Digital Elevation/Terrain Model (DEM) Data Access and Tools (multiple sources within)