Urban Geomorphology Working Group

WG Chairs

Alessia Pica, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (alessia.pica@uniroma1.it)
Francisco Faccini, University of Genoa, Italy (faccini@unige.it)

Members of the Steering Committee:

Zbigniew Zwoliński, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland          

Luca Lӓmmle, University of Campinas, Brazil

Adam Łajczak, Association of Polish Geomorphologists, Poland

Najwer Alicia, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland

Emmanuel Reynard, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Malgorzata Mazurek, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland       

Lucie Kubalikova, Institute of Geonics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Laura Melelli, University of Perugia, Italy

Pierluigi Brandolini, University of Genova, Italy

 

Members:

Rihab Abdelkebir University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Casey D. Allen, University of the West Indies, Barbados

Carlo Donadio, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Laurent Lespez, Sorbonne University, France

Filippo Russo, University of Sannio, Italy

Gergino Chounna Yemele, University of Padova, Italy

Billy A. Newman, queen University of London, United Kingdom

Malka Anna, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

Iwona Hildebrandt-Radk, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland 

Introduction to WG activity

Geomorphological research has traditionally been carried out in rural or natural areas. For long, geomorphological studies in urban areas have remained less developed. During the last century human activities became one of the main physical processes of change and anthropogenic geomorphology developed. Urbanization is one of the major challenges that the world faces, thus in the framework of anthropogenic geomorphology, urban geomorphology focuses on the changes to the nature’s physical systems caused by human activities in the cities.

The scope of the Urban Geomorphology Working Group is to define, and update integrated urban geomorphological investigation in urban areas, focusing on the modeling of urban landscape evolution, the interactions between natural and anthropogenic processes, the understanding of anthropogenic erosion and accumulation processes.

The Urban Geomorphology Working Group has been working since 2019. For the second period of work (2024-2028) the Working Group revised and updated its objectives, in May 2025, starting from previous one.

Specific aim of the Working Group for the second period of work (2024-2028) is to promote the use of advanced technologies for urban geomorphological analysis (remote sensing, 3D modelling and cities digital twins).

To this aim we encourage geomorphology and interdisciplinar scientists to share expertise during international meetings we organize, and to build collaborative projects.

In particular, we are focusing on

  • the effects of anthropogenic forcings on geomorphological processes, with particular attention to climate change
  • analysing and indexing anthropization encouraging standardization, interoperability, and open data practices
  • assessing urban geomorphological hazards and integrating geomorphology into urban planning and climate adaptation strategies
  • strengthening the role of urban geomorphology in science communication and education supporting sustainable cities goals (e.g., SDGs).

The new objectives are highly challenging, and the Working Group does not expect to achieve them within this period, but rather to continue its activities beyond 2028.

 

Last WG Annual Reports:

Annual report 2024-2025

Annual report 2023-2024

Annual report 2022-2023

Annual report 2019-2020

Events: