Micro, Macro & Mezzo Geoinformation (Jun 2015)
Geomorphological mapping and geomorphological maps
Abstract
It is known that it is impossible to rebuild the landscape development by only topographic maps. Therefore, for more than 100 years, are used the studies and geomorphological maps in which are described morphological features, structural construction and morphology (showing forms of relief and their genesis). While, in 1960 year, are defined several concepts about detailed geomorphological map. Geomorphological detailed mapping is done today, in many countries, the main method of geomorphological surveying. During the last decades of the twentieth century, this mapping appeared mainly in two different ways: analytical, which is based on information about the genesis, morphography, morphometry and chronology, and synthetic in which, is combined analytical data with parameters such as land, vegetation and hydrology. According to a third way, pragmatic way, is derived information only about the particular purpose. An example of this approach are natural hazards maps that focus only on processes and responsible features of environmental risks. At present, geomorphological legends are very different from one to another, but in general, most of them have 5 parts: general information; detailed lithological, structural hydrographic data; information about the fact that to what extent are insured or meet morphological, morphometric, morphogenetic and morphocronologic data; inventory of forms (typically 200 to 550 symbols; 15 genesis); information about the preparation of the legend. Geomorphologs and cartographers are constantly trying to develop a uniform legend and applicable to all types of landscapes. Using Geographic Information Systems, it is completely eliminated the problem of alignment in space of legend symbols. Technical advantages during these two decades have facilitated the construction of geomorphological maps in Albania, where are created several detailed geomorphological maps for the whole territory and its separate parts in the scale 1: 25000. But, despite this technical development, geomorphological maps still have their limitations in describing the landscape, especially in subsurface features precisely the lack of detail and the subjectivity of the authors. Numerous theoretical conceptual and information technology issues are at the heart of digital geomorphologic mapping (DGmM), but scientific progress has not kept the same pace to innovative geospatial technologies that evolve rapidly. Consequently, opportunities or new skills exist, but many issues are not adequately addressed. Therefore, this paper discusses the conceptual foundations and illustrates how geomorphometry and mapping can be used to produce geomorphological information about the earth's surface and landforms, the pace of the process, relationships processshape and geomorphic systems. The paper makes a theoretical analysis of the content, classification, symbolism and geomorphological mapping using the light of new concepts of geoinformation. In this paper are treated geomorphological methods and automatic procedures of geomorphologic mapping.
