Abstract:

Geomorphology belongs to the field of geography and geology, and encompasses the study of the forms of the earth's surface and the processes that generate them. For the 2D representation of the geomorphology are used cartographic techniques such as contour lines, zenithal or oblique shading or hypsometric inks, to name a few, are used. The most common cartographic technique for the graphic representation of relief are contour lines, which may be combined with other techniques such as shading or the use of hypsometric inks. In the teaching of subjects related to the interpretation of the topography of the land, it is observed that the student finds it difficult to interpret the cartographic relief from 2D graphic representations. For the interpretation of contour lines, the student needs to make use of geospatial thinking. Geospatial thinking intervenes in the abstraction that a student needs to do so that, from 2D cartographic representation, they are able to visualize the represented terrain, identifying the forms of relief, also called landforms, in three dimensions. In pre-university education, subjects related to topography and cartography are not studied in depth, which is why the student, when arrives at the University, has difficulties with the understanding of three-dimensional space represented in two dimensions. This three-dimensional space, in the field of topography and cartography, is a specific geomorphological environment in which landforms appear such as elevations, depressions, hills, valleys, dividing lines, or hills, to name a few examples.

Three-dimensional terrain representation technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and CAD tools allow the visualization of a digital terrain model in three dimensions, and offer great possibilities to facilitate the interpretation of landforms.

This work presents various actions aimed at the development of geospatial thinking of students of engineering degrees in which 3D technologies for the representation of relief forms have been used.

Keywords:

Geomorphology, landforms, geospatial thinking, 3D technologies, topographic interpretation.