This study deals with the possibilities of expertdriven semi-automated recognition of planation surfaces and other flat landforms in the area of the Aggtelek Karst, Hungary. Planation surfaces are the most debatable and vague landforms and can be defined as parts of terrain formed by long-lasting erosion-denudation processes under the stagnant erosion base conditions. In terms of denudation chronology they can be considered as morphological indicators of different evolution stages of area. In karst areas planation surfaces and river terraces are mostly correlated with cave levels, which originated in relation to the same stagnant erosion base. Because there is no general method of delineation of planation surfaces, the main objective of the study was to find a suitable method for semi-automated recognition of flat landforms in the Aggtelek Karst, which should correspond to different phases of the Jósva River incision and therefore could be correlated to the multilevel cave system of the study area. Several methods for semi-automated landform classification were tested for recognition of flat surfaces in a relatively objective way. Slope gradient thresholding tool, and r.param.scale and r.geomorphon modules implemented in GRASS GIS were tested. As a result, the r.geomorphon module was proven as the most suitable method for delineation of relatively flat surfaces. Findings of the presented work can be used as a morphological indicator of the comprehensive reconstruction of evolution of the Aggtelek Karst and the Slovak Karst.
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