Objective
This research aims at contributing towards increasing knowledge on scale and hierarchies in geomorphometry and related disciplines.
The overall objective of this project is to provide a coherent framework of nested hierarchical organization of topography for modelling purposes. In order to address this important topic, not only for geomorphometry, but for all fields that need morphometry as a boundary condition, innovative techniques supported by fieldwork will be developed and applied.
The research objectives are: 1. to develop methods for identifying characteristic scales associated with specific combination of terrain parameters; and 2. to set up a procedure for integrating terrain information into nested hierarchies of landforms, both morphometric and morphologic relevant.
To accomplish project objectives, we apply a methodology that comprises two distinct steps. Firstly, morphometric and statistical techniques will be carried out to develop scaling procedures for terrain derivatives. In contrast with previous techniques, this approach is built on image segmentation concept. The work will be carried out in four test areas, covering different degrees of terrain roughness, i.e. nearly flat, hilly, mountain, and combined. Secondly, morphometric information will be integrated with geomorphological knowledge to develop multi-scale hierarchical classification schemes specific for selected process-domains. The research in this step will be carried out in broader test areas, covering five distinct topographies, i.e. fluvial, karst, glacial, arid, and landslide.
The expected results of this project have a great potential of improving geomorphological and environmental modelling across scales, which is an issue that has not been adequately addressed so far.
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008
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Funding Scheme
MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG)Coordinator
5020 Salzburg
Austria