[appgema] Contribution for Switzerland and France

[Philippe Schoeneich]

Hallo,
I am very interested by such a working group, as I use myself 
intensively geomorphoplogical mapping. I can propose contributions on 
what has been done in Switzerland and France.

For Switzerland, I made a compilation of all work and legend systems 
developped in this country. It is in French, but could easily be updated 
and translated to make it available. Several mapping systems have to be 
mentionned:
- the old initial "Swiss legend", dating back to the late 40's. Its 
basic principle (red = erosion, green = accumulation) is still used for 
applied morphodynamic mapping, e.g. for event documentation or for 
mapping of fluvial dynamics.
- the federal  forest research institute developped in the 70's a legend 
system for detailed mapping of torrential basins, It was specifically 
designed for surveying erosion zones, material contribution areas, etc., 
in order to plan torrent control actions. It is not used anymore.
- the EPFL developped in the 80's a legend system for landslide maps, 
which can be considered as thematic applied geomorphological maps.
- the Federal geological survey developped in the 90's a legend system 
for process mapping as first step in hazard management, including 
landslides, torrents and avalanches. A GIS toolbox has been developped 
for this legend system and should be available on CD. This system is 
recommended for hazard mapping procedures in Switzerland.

In France, an "official" geomorphological mapping programme has been 
initiated in the 70's and produced some twenty maps at scale 1:50'000. 
It is abandonned today, but the legend system is still used in academic 
context. In the field of applied geomorphological mapping, one can mention:
- the ZERMOS maps, an attempt of landslide susceptibility maps 
developped in the 70's, and abandonned after a few test maps.
- more recently a method for "hydrogeomorphological maps" has been 
developped, as a method for assessing flood hazard, basing on fluvial 
landforms and geomorphological limits of floodplains. It is mainly 
adapted for mediterranean rivers.

Most documentation is in french (or german for what regards Switzerland) 
and an effort will be necessary to make all this available for a larger 
community.

Best regards.

-- 

Philippe Schoeneich

Institut de Géographie Alpine
14 bis av. Marie-Reynoard
F-38100 Grenoble

Tel: ++33 4 76 82 20 19
Fax: ++33 4 76 82 20 01

e-mail: philippe.schoeneich at ujf-grenoble.fr

http://iga.ujf-grenoble.fr/