Geomorphic analysis and semi-automated landforms extraction in different natural landscapes

Increasing knowledges in the computer algorithms for calculating morphometric properties of the Earth's surface has provided in the last decades many methods of semi-automated extraction and classification of landforms. The use of digital elevation models (DEMs) and specific algorithms in GIS applications has made easier and faster the semi-automated recognition of landform classes. In this paper, we propose a new toolbox, implemented from the original version of the Jenness's landform classification, which takes into account a revision of the standard landform classes extracted by GIS. The new toolbox allowed us to extract 48 landform classes, and refined the typology of landform features in different natural landscapes, from a geomorphological point of view. The landforms classification and the morphometry of six different selected sites pertained to volcanic areas, mountain ridges, karst endorheic basins, hilly areas, fluvial sectors, and coastal plain areas were analysed and discussed. The selected areas are located in Southern Italy, where many different geological and geomorphological landscapes exist.