PLANETARY LANDFORM IDENTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPE EVALUATION USING FLOWCHARTS

• Henrik Hargitai

• Eotvos Lorand University Budapest Hungary

• hhargitai@gmail.com

LANDFORM IDENTIFICATION

• Based on multiparameter evaluation

• shape (linear/circular etc)

• topography (elevation/depression/none)

• albedo (bright/dark)

• radar

• ...and their variations

• Advantage:

• Simple technical

decision tree can lead

to correct landform

identification

• Identification of a

morphology may not

have implications of a

single origin (process)

• Why children should know planetary landforms they will never visit? / Educational / scientific (STEM)

use:

• Learn to observe distinguish among criteria indicative of a landform

• Learn to distinguish among a set of criteria to identify a visually distinct object

• Understand how multiple criteria (relief, shape, albedo) can define features that cannot be defined by

one single criterion

• Earth vs other planets comparison

• To think beyond Earth / understand that there is more than what is in textbooks

• To understand that Earth is special but not the only variation but the other planets are similar in many

respect (processes, materials) with a different outcome

• To understand large timescale processes

• To be able to compare a living planet to nonliving ones

• To prepare for exoplanet discoveries

• Visual identification example:

• Fonts.com 2000s: identify in 12 steps →

• Outdated by now: Now they use categories, tags,

• or machine learning (photo upload)

FLOWCHART CONCEPTUALMODEL • Based on Proximity

• Collection of related items connected

and placed close

• Distant connection is shown by spatial

distance in chart

• Theorietical chart, needs no personal

observation

• Aim: help memorize relations and

items

• Yes/No decision tree

• Simple decisions derivedfrom visual observation

• Needs observation and omparison

• Aim: learn to see and distinguish complex formsusing single decisions

Combined:

• Yes/No decision tree

• Similar forms placed in close proximity

• Colors may indicate

process

• Drawings can create

text-free chart!

• Photos can help in final

identification

• Drawings simplify,

generalize

• Text uses mental images

• Symbology may be

linked to real shape

• Other variations based on

visual observation

• Thank you

• Maps: planetarymapping.wordpress.com

• Children’s maps: childrensmaps.wordpress.com