Department of Earth Sciences, University of Perugia Department of Earth Sciences, University of Padova European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2011

Natural diversity GEODIVERSITY Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Biodiversity the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landform, physical processes) and soil features (Gray, 2004) … and also topography and elements of hydrosphere … ( Serrano & Ruiz-Flano, 2007) the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landform, physical processes) and soil features (Gray, 2004) … and also topography and elements of hydrosphere … ( Serrano & Ruiz-Flano, 2007) - Intrinsic value: refers to the ethical belief that some things (in this case geodiversity) are of values simply for what they are rather than what they can be used for by humans (utilitarian value) (Gray, 2004). - Cultural and aesthetic values: assigned by a community for which a particular site plays an important role in terms of cultural and historical heritage. - Scientific and educational value: the importance of geodiversity as a topic of scientific research, teaching and dissemination. - Economic value: the geo-diversity can be an economic resource, sometimes of prime importance for the areas in which it is recognized.

Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition GEODIVERSITY Landscape Management Geotourism … a tourism that sustains the geographical character of a place … Geosites … any place where you can define a geological and geomorphological interest for conservation … Geoparks … A territory which includes a particular geological heritage and a sustainable territorial development strategy supported by a national program to promote development

Geological f. GEODIVERSITY INDEX Maps, field survey Geomorphological f. Land cover f. Maps, field survey Maps, Remote Sensed data GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS - Geological complex -Bedding -Soil type GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS - Geological complex -Bedding -Soil type LANDFORMS -Landforms activity -Morphogenetic processes LANDFORMS -Landforms activity -Morphogenetic processes LANDUSE -Hierarchical classification of land use LANDUSE Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Topographic f. Digital Elevation Model TOPOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS -Roughness -Slope -Aspect -Curvature TOPOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS -Roughness -Slope -Aspect -Curvature

Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Study area Regional and National Parks Geosites in the Umbria Region

Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Study area Fluvial Lacustrine Deposits (Olocene-Pliocene) Low slope values Terrigenous Complex (Miocene) Medium slope values Calcareous Complex (Trias up. – Oligocene) High slope values Geology Subasio Regional Park

Subasio Mt. 1287m Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Study area Subasio Mt. The Subasio Mountain Regional Park

GI = Eg IR/lnS Serrano & Ruiz-Flano, 2007 GI = Geodiversity Index Eg = number of different elements in the study square (total diversity). IR = roughness parameter ln = natural logarithm S = area of the square (ha) Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Data analysis GRID format GEODIVERSITY INDEX V i = each abiotic factor that contributes to GI with mapping characteristics of spatial CONTINUITY (geological substrate, soil cover, land use). G mi = each abiotic factor contributing to the geodiversity definition with mapping characteristics of spatial DISCONTINUITY (morphogenetic processes). S a = "surface area: a grid in which the cell values reflect the topographic surface area within that cell. P a = "planimetric area, the square of the resolution of the elevation model. ln S a = natural logarithm of S a

Input layer ArcGIS 9.3 Spatial Analyst tools – Neighboorhood - Focal statistics - Variety Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Data analysis Cell size – 25m Focal Functions Neighborhood Statics Variety Output layer Low Medium High

ArcGIS 9.3 Spatial Analyst tools – Merge - Raster Calculator –- Sum(ingrid1, ingrid2, ingrid3…) Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Data analysis 1 Mass wasting MERGE Local functions SUM Input layer Fluvial process MERGE Overlay layer Output layer Anthropic Karst Mass wasting Fluvial Structural

ArcGIS 9.x Spatial Analyst tools – Raster Calculator - Arithmetic operators + Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Data analysis Geological variety Arithmetic operators + Geomorphological variety Landcover variety

Model 1 IR = 1.1 Model 2IR = 2 Model 3IR = 3 Planimetric areaSurface area Sa 1 < Sa 2 < Sa 3 Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Data analysis Terrain roughness is a term used to describe how irregular an area is ROUGHNESS INDEX Terrain roughness is a term used to describe how irregular an area is ROUGHNESS INDEX Landscape model where the geomorphological processes are more active and with much variability … Terrain roughness is a term used to describe how irregular an area is ROUGHNESS INDEX SaPa Surface area / Planimetric Area Terrain roughness is a term used to describe how irregular an area is ROUGHNESS INDEX SaPa Surface area / Planimetric Area

Jenness, J Surface Area and Ratio for ArcGIS (surface area.exe). ArcGIS 9.x - Surface-area.ext Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity: definition Data analysis - Roughness is dipendent only on DEM, not on fields data. - Roughness can become an important indicator for GI identification

44% 37% 19% Medium GI LowGI High GI Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Geodiversity Index 1) High values corresponding to geosites

Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Geodiversity Index 2) High values corresponding to high topographic index (roughness)

Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Geodiversity Index 3) High values corresponding to active geomorphological processes

Geodiversità: definizione Indice quantitativoArea di studioElementi di geodiversitàAnalisi dei dati Conclusioni Geodiversity IndexConclusionData analysisStudy area Geodiversity:definition Conclusion PRELIMINARY RESULTS Thanks for your attention! FUTURE PLANS