Combining Digital Elevation Data, Expert Knowledge and GIS for Geomorphological Mapping; The Case Study of Mount Hymettus, Athens, Greece

Abstract This study presents a geomorphological map for Mount Hymettus (Athens, Greece). The geomorphological content was produced by processing DEM derived topographic attributes, hydrography and geology. In particular, the backbone of this procedure was the definition of the appropriate criteria for landform identification by validating conditional statements for the processed data in a GIS environment. Extended fieldwork and photo-interpretation verified the outputs. Following the assessment, the derived landforms were grouped into the following geomorphological units: the main alpine metamorphic mass, the foot slopes and the coastal area. A custom layout regarding symbology, colouring, and generalization was designed in order to highlight the captured geomorphological content. The results indicate that the DEM derived topographic attributes combined with the geological setting and the river network generate successfully a large number of landforms under certain circumstances.