A review of landform classification methods

Abstract

The study of landform can be used to predict specific solid rock and moisture conditions that exist in that landform. Landforms are of significance in engineering because they influence the quality and type of grading, pre-determine the drainage requirements, and the soil or rock conditions. They have added significance because there are an infinite number of duplicates of each type. Given that each of the landform units have different characteristics (soil, slope, elevation, vegetation etc.), classification of landforms is importance. Therefore, landforms are widely recognized as natural objects that partition the earth’s surface into essential spatial entities. Landform entities differ from one another in terms of specification such as shape, size, orientation, relief and contextual position. They also differ in terms of the physical processes that were involved in their formation and that continue to operate within them at the present time. This paper aims at providing a review of the landform characteristics and classification. Various definitions and attributes of landforms which focus on aspects of morphometry, geomorphometric context, terrain positions and scale are discussed as well. In addition, the methods developed for the landform classification are assessed.