PICOs

Geomorphological mapping is one of the most important tools that helps to understand landscape character and evolution. In the digital era, cartographic products have become increasingly accessible to scientists and the wider society due to the development of GIS technology, increases in data and software availability (i.e. open source), and the expansion of user-friendly and easy-to-access interfaces. Geomorphological maps are crucial in a range of pure scientific and applied disciplines. Applications include reconstructing past depositional environments, landscape evolution modelling, establishing chronologies, geohazard assessment, planning of engineering activities and land use. Recent technological advances in data collection have enhanced mapping quality to new levels of detail and accuracy. Significant developments include the accessibility of high resolution datasets and new data collection methods (e.g. LiDAR data, high-resolution satellite imagery, drones/unmanned aerial vehicles, geophysical imaging), and innovative processing methods (e.g. Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry). These are often combined with more traditional field-based mapping approaches. As a result of recent advances, we are now able to identify landforms that were not previously detectable and to interpret processes which were previously unknown or unrecognised. Moreover, new semi-automatic and automatic mapping approaches can support rapid delimitation and extraction of selected landforms or even whole landform assemblages.

This session aims to showcase recent advances in landform mapping, and we invite contributions related to mapping of specific landforms as well as whole landsystems in different environments. We particularly welcome studies that (a) demonstrate the potential of multi-method and innovative mapping approaches, (b) showcase novel methods of data collection to solve previously overlooked problems, or (c) present mapping of previously unmapped or newly-emerging landscapes.

Keynote lecture:
Jeremy Ely (Sheffield, UK): Global glacial geomorphology