The Geomorphotechnical Map: a highly detailed geomorphic map for railroad infrastructure improvement. A case study for the Prahova River Defile (Curvature Carpathians, Romania)

Abstract

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The paper proposes a new type of geomorphic map, a selective fusion of geomorphic data with land engineering and transport infrastructure features at the detailed scale of 1:5,000. The map focuses on the interaction between landforms, morphodynamics and transport infrastructure, having as interface the land engineering works. The “geomorphotechnical map” as it was named was developed in a digital format as a GIS project for the Prahova River Defile (Curvature Carpathians, Romania), a sector along the main transcarpathian route which links Bucharest with Brasov and Transylvania. Geomorphic data was collected through detailed field mapping, during summer and autumn periods, together with GPS surveying. The technical infrastructure elements were located also using orthophotos from different time periods. The map reflects the main favourable geomorphic conditions (and limitations) for the improvement of a difficult sector along the Bucharest-Brasov main railway; this has national and European importance (a sector of the 4th Pan European Corridor). Since 2008 this railway (double and electrified since 1969) is the subject of complex and costly improvement works supported by European Financed Projects.