The Modern Geomorphological Map

Classical geomorphological maps are representations of the spatial distribution of landforms, materials and of the processes responsible for their formation, in a single paper map. They contain a wealth of information that is generally documented with the aid of symbol and color legends. Uniformity among geomorphological legends does not exist, mainly because the traditional mapping ‘schools’ independently developed systems for use at different scales in a variety of landscapes. Technological advances have changed the preparation, data collection, analysis, storage, and visualization of the modern geomorphological map. Modern geomorphological maps are digital collections of information layers consisting of georeferenced vector, raster and tabular data that are stored in a geodatabase. The data depicted in classical geomorphological maps can be scanned and converted into digital geomorphological information layers using conversion legends. Both the content and the precision of digital geomorphological information can be updated by using information from digital elevation models (DEMs). A further development is the (semi-)automated extraction and classification of geomorphological features from DEMs. Extraction and classification of geomorphological features are based on land-surface parameters derived from DEMs. The visualization and publication of digital geomorphological information layers have drastically changed. Birds-eye views, three-dimensional display and animations, virtual globe visualizations, geospatial portable document format maps or access to geomorphological maps via web-based services are possible through remote servers. The end-user interactively controls the information that is on-screen displayed, analyzed, and distributed. A case study from the Austrian Alps is presented to illustrate how: (1) geomorphological information from classical maps can be converted to digital information layers; (2) detailed DEMs are used in semi-automated object-based classification of landforms; and (3) a modern geomorphological map is used for application to geoconservation