Modules

Prerequisites

Contents

Part 1 Lecture – Geomorphology • Fundamentals and concepts of geomorphology • Geomorphic agents and processes • Landforms and landform • Anthropogenic geomorphology • Characteristic landforms of the mid latitudes Part 2 Seminar – Digital Terrain Analysis • Concept of Geomorphometry and basic geomorphometric parameters • Digital elevation models (DEMs) – types and data sources • Software for elevation data processing and analysis • Visualization methods • Advanced geomorphometric indices • Exemplary practical applications (hydrology, archaeology, soil erosion modelling,…) Part 3 Seminar/Exercise - Processing and analysis of digital landform data • Practical exercises for exemplary study areas of an ongoing research project • import and processing of DEMs in GIS database • computation of basic geomorphometric parameters (slope, curvature, exposition,…) • digital landform classification • computation of advanced morphometric indices (TWI, SPI, …) • visualization of relief structures • digitization of relief structures, analysis of spatial distribution patterns • creation of maps

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the students will be able • to understand and remember the fundamentals of geomorphology • to explain the factors and processes of landform development • to describe the morphology of landforms and explain its formation • to understand and apply methods for quantitative landform description and analysis • to apply and evaluate different types of digital elevation data • to process and analyze digital elevation data in GIS software • to create maps of landform structures and relief features

Assessment

• written assessment on Lecture Geomorphology, approx. 8 questions, 2 pages (20%) • 4 seminar exercises to be solved independently or in groups, 4 protocols (1 page each) and 4 presentations (10 min each) (40%) • final integrative presentation (20 min) and discussion of exercise results (15 min) (40%)