Engineering geomorphological maps are expected to represent the characteristics of surface morphology in relation to economic and technical planning in a concise and easily understandable form. The most satisfactory means of attaining this objective is to use morphometric methods for the characterization of relief. Morphometric methods include quantitative description of the relief.

Hungarian engineering geomorphological maps indicate the stability of slopes, the nature, intensity, and direction of slope processes, as well as the delineation of slope categories. Among these factors only the latter gives quantitative morphometric information, the others being qualitative classifications. This paper presents methods of representing the above properties and reviews morphometric methods of representing slopes, such as:

  • the values of average and extreme slope angles, which are equally important for engineering applications. Among slope maps those representing slope categories are particularly successful.

  • slope morphology maps show the slope direction, the average slope angle and the slope form (convex, concave, rectilinear, and compound) within the pattern of the drainage network

  • isotangent maps give information on the surface gradients

  • relative relief maps represent the maximum relative level differences relating to territorial units.

These techniques complement engineering geomorphological maps; some of the information can be transferred to general engineering geomorphological maps. But, most importantly they are used in the precise and quantitative definition of certain types of relief.

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