Applied Geomorphology

The course aims at preparing the student to perform territorial analyses in relation to geomorphological hazards, of natural and anthropic origin, that may affect the territory. The attention will be focused on different morphogenetic and morphoclimatic environments, on different types of vulnerable elements in the territory (both anthropic elements and natural resources), and to the consequent genesis of geomorphological risk scenarios.

The course aims at providing the students with the tools useful for: i) detecting the morphogenetic and morphodynamic features of the geomorphological context; ii) detecting the most appropriate investigation techniques to define the activity status of geomorphological processes in a certain morphogenetic and morphoclimatic environment; iii) defining the most suitable solutions aimed at mitigating the geomorphological risks, both natural and human induced; iii) collecting the useful information for preparing technical reports, producing geomorphological thematic maps (landforms) and applied geomorphology maps, useful for local entities to managing the territory

1) Recognizing landforms and the related geomorphological processes responsible for the modelling of the physical geographic landscape;

2) Identifying the predisposing, preparing and triggering factors of geomorphological processes and their relation with the bedrock;

3) Identifying the most appropriate geomorphological technique to define the degree of activity of a certain process in a defined context.

4) Identifying the potential hazards, the different types of exposed vulnerable elements and the geomorphological risk scenarios;

5) Identifying the most suitable solutions for the mitigation of geomorphological risk scenarios in relation to local conditions, types of process, and the response of the environment;

6) Identifying the human impact on geomorphological processes and the relation between geomorphological processes and the resources of the territory;

7) Managing a practical problem related to a specific area showing the ability of using the available tools for the analysis (scientific literature analysis, historical archives, satellite and aerial photos interpretation, thematic maps interpretations, WebGIS applications of territorial entities), and for the communication of the results (realization of appropriate geomorphological maps