DOLINES MAPPING: CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES OF USING DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS

Dolines are considered karst indicator features, attesting evolutionary processes and controlling hydrodynamic and environmental processes. The mapping of these features assists in several types of landscape analysis demanding time and funds, besides presenting subjectivity related to acquisition technique or scale problems. The spatial resolution improvement allowed accuracy in the mapping of dolines using digital elevation models and geoprocessing, automated or not. Hindrances in point detection and demarcation of depression limits do not allow the correct comparison between attributes from different studies, such as perimeter, area, depth, and main axis. This paper discusses the main methods for the mapping of dolines and synthesized the mean strategies to overcome errors such as omission of true features, false positive or spurious feature counting, beside the improvement of the accurate individualization of karst depressions.