Analysis and mapping of geomorphological processes in environmental management

Abstract

The paper explains some detailed geomorphological maps of Italy that offer a global vision of the relief forms of actual morphogenetic processes and of traces of those which have been followed in the past and give indications about the evolution of the landscape. The documents are rigorously scientific, but nevertheless for an applied scope they may not be of immediate and easy practical use, in fact the quantity and density of the data can make the reading quite difficult. For this reason geomorphological stability maps were created, deriving from the detailed geomorphological maps, with a selection and simplification of data which make the final document much more useful. The paper also explains the legend of the geomorphological stability maps, where the unstable areas are classified on the grounds of the cause of degradation. This degradation is dependant on the morphogenetic processes operating and rock type, both elements being essential for the choice of the most suitable and effective remedy against instability. The unstable areas are marked by different symbols, while firm and stable territories have no markings on the topographic background. The geomorphological stability maps are presented, compiled according to the legend described, and derived from the geomorphological maps explained previously; the importance of this type of document as a base for environmental management is emphasized. Finally the author describes also two geomorphological stability maps on a medium scale (respectively on the scale of 1:150,000 and 1:250,000) with regard to the District of Lake Garda in Italy and the East Central State in Nigeria. These two documents have been elaborated in the description of interdisciplinary studies of environmental management, for which geomorphology in the dynamic sense constitutes the basic science.