Landscape and Society: new proposals towards a shared knowledge

The communicative potential of the geological Landscape is an excellent tool for environmental enhancement through sustainable tourism.

Following a holistic approach, it is appropriate to define Landscape as the result of the endogenous and exogenous activities that form Earth's surface. In other terms, it can be defined as the result of the interaction of many natural and cultural components.

So, it is logical to define Landscape as an informative vector in communicating Geological-Environment Sciences to the widest audience.

Contemporary technology offers us new tools to organize and share territorial  knowledge (intended as the integration between natural and cultural components); thanks to GIS, it is possible to represent a large amount of data by the graphical output that synthesizes the data collection and management, as organized by the geographical information system to highlight the topics under study; thanks to GIS, it's also possible to set up procedures to assess the state of the studied landscapes, referring to the dual risk/resource which characterizes our country.

Furthermore, it is easy to identify the areas of more excellent natural and cultural value by integrating the resulting thematic maps. That is particularly useful in identifying and managing those areas of the Italian territory, where the distinctive Landscape's features add an element of cultural diversity. All of these tools are essential for Geoparks' strategic policies.

A strategic integration between the Landscape's characteristics and the social-cultural development of some regions of particular interest, realized to create more vital public participation, can be achieved by using new topics such as nature, culture, and sport. A prototypical App is proposed, showing the most famous outdoor sports location from a scientific point of view. By displaying thematic maps  (3D modeling, animation), it is possible to integrate local environment and culture information. GIS and 3D modeling are flexible and friendly tools in educational plans and territorial promotion, as confirmed by the GeoloGiro experience (Geology at the Giro d'Italia 2012-2020).

Keywords: Landscape, Geoparks, Heritage, Divulgation, Sport, SmartApp