Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for mapping and to help manage and analyse geographic data by using geodatabases and specific tools. We apply GIS for geomorphological analyses at different scales using the highest resolution datasets available in each study area (aerial and satellite images and High-Resolution Digital Terrain Models-HRDTM from airborne LiDAR data) together with field work. The analysis of LiDAR-based point clouds and HRDTM enables the detection of landforms otherwise indiscernible with aerial or satellite images because: 1) it furnishes a homogeneous overview of landforms across wide areas, which is a direct advantage over field mapping; 2) it permits the analysis of the bare earth surface below the canopy of forested terrains; and 3) it allows us to detect small changes on the Earth surface that would be difficult to detect by photogrammetry. These techniques are crucial to improve the detection of areas affected by geological processes in an efficient and reliable way.
