GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING USING GIS FOR LARGE TABLELAND AREAS - AN EXAMPLE FOR FĂLCIU HILLS, IN EASTERN ROMANIA - Carpathian Journal of Earth And Environmental Sciences

This paper presents a complex and versatile geomorphological information combination that enhances current geomorphological mapping methodology by using digital GIS based layers. The map and legend presented here at scale of 1:50,000 combines symbols for hydrography, morphometry, morphography, present geomorphological processes, anthropic relief forms, etc. with symbol colour variations for erosional processes, river terraces, types of rivers and creeks, their relation with the geologic structure, etc. The 25 digital layers were created using different sources of information starting from topographical maps, recent LANDSAT and SPOT imagery, in the field GPS mapping and refined for certain categories of information by using latest orthorectified aerial imagery. This large number of layers can be combined in various maps as each layer consists of simple graphical information but connected with attribute database which can be used to display these graphic features regarding certain requests or specific processes attributes. The versatility of the combined layers is reflected in various scientific or engineering purposes it may be used. This results in a complex scientific map that is rich in data and which is more relevant than many traditional previous maps and uses a simple legend created by using GIS abilities to display patterns, colors or even more complex symbols by using programming scripts to generate them. This is illustrated on a relatively large area (2,200 km²) Fălciu Hills, in the eastern part of Romania, which has a simple geology, with a monoclinal structure of the strata, consisted of soft rocks (silt, sand and clay) and largely used in agriculture.