Abstract
In urbanized areas, particularly in lowland terrains and floors of large river valleys, the natural land configuration is often hard to recognize due to a long history of human activity. Accordingly, archaeological works in cities, which supply knowledge on settlement conditions, are usually accompanied by geological and geomophological research. Lately, data from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) have become a valuable source of information on urban land configuration. Geophysical methods are also becoming increasingly popular in background studies. The paper presents a method of using and linking these sources of spatial information about landforms in such areas. The main aim is to identify to what extent these complementary sources of data and the proposed method can be used in such a specific environment to reconstruct natural, buried terrain morphology. The city of Wroclaw in Central Europe serves as an example. To this end geomorphometric studies were conducted with the use of digital elevation models (DEMs) based on LiDAR scanning and derivated land-surface parameters—SAGA Wetness Index, Channel Network Base Level and Altitude above Channel Network. The study also involved determining morphological edges and measurements of the meanders of the Odra, as well as expanding information on the spatial distribution of alluvia and the structure of slope breaks. To this end, geophysical measurements were conducted using the Two-Dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography method. Additionally, five typical sequences of man-made ground present within the perimeter of the city were distinguished. As a result, a map of the main landforms of Wroclaw is presented. Finally, we argue that although high resolution DEM and derivate land-surface parameters are very useful in terrain analysis, places with thick man-made ground or strongly levelled areas must be recognized by geoarchaeological excavations or geological bore holes. The geophysical survey is useful to identify buried morphological edges and older relief elements in open areas.
Highlights
Geomorphological studies in urban areas are difficult to carry out due to dense development and artificial transformations of natural surfaces involving, among others, the formation of man-made ground and modifications of the drainage system (ROSENBAUM et al 2003; SZABO 2010)
This often prevents an unequivocal identification of initial landforms and the correct analysis of the local palaeogeographic development. Such difficulties accompany detailed geomorphological studies conducted during archaeological works (KVAMME 2006). These studies are greatly supported by digital elevation models (DEMs) and geophysical methods of ground penetration (KAMPKE 1999; CHALLIS 2006; PAPADOPOULOS et al 2006; TSOKAS et al 2011)
The range of natural and artificial relief features was set based on Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data
Summary
Geomorphological studies in urban areas are difficult to carry out due to dense development and artificial transformations of natural surfaces involving, among others, the formation of man-made ground and modifications of the drainage system (ROSENBAUM et al 2003; SZABO 2010). The natural land configuration, especially in lowland areas, is obscured and hard to identify. This often prevents an unequivocal identification of initial landforms and the correct analysis of the local palaeogeographic development. Such difficulties accompany detailed geomorphological studies conducted during archaeological works (KVAMME 2006). These studies are greatly supported by digital elevation models (DEMs) and geophysical methods of ground penetration (KAMPKE 1999; CHALLIS 2006; PAPADOPOULOS et al 2006; TSOKAS et al 2011). The main aim of the study is to identify to what extent these
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