Reconstructing predevelopment conditions of Lake Worth Creek using historical maps, accounts, and aerial photography

This thesis develops a technique that combines the use of historical geography with photo interpretation and physical geography to reconstruct the predevelopment landcover of an urban area in southeastern Florida. This technique differs from traditional map making methods by utilizing Geographic Information System modeling procedures to create a conceptual map and test it against independent historical maps and accounts. Historical maps and accounts provided new information about the historic landscape that could not be deferred from present physiographic information. The resulting maps had more detail about the most highly altered areas than the conceptual map created from physiographic information.