Geomorphology literally means the study of the Earth’s landforms. It is defi ned by the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG; www.geomorph.org) as the interdisciplinary and systematic study of landforms and their landscapes, as well as the Earth surface processes that create them. Geomorphologists investigate landforms and landscapes addressing multiple aspects, such as their genesis,  morphometry , chronology and past and future evolution. They also investigate Earth surface processes not only to understand their morphogenetic role, but also to gain a scientifi c basis for assessing and managing a great deal of environmental problems associated with them, notably geohazards (e.g. landslides, fl oods, subsidence, earthquakes). 

Landforms and landscapes vary enormously across the Earth, from high mountains to endless plains. At a smaller scale, Nature often surprises us by creating shapes which look improbable. Many physical landscapes are so immensely beautiful that they have received the highest possible recognition—they hold the status of World Heritage properties. Apart from often being immensely scenic, landscapes tell stories which not uncommonly can be traced back in time for tens of million years and include unique events.

The landscapes and landforms of Scotland are renowned for their outstanding geodiversity, the outcome of a long and complex geological evolution, Cenozoic uplift and etchplanation, and modification by glacial and interglacial processes during the Quaternary.

The primary objective of this paper is to present a semiautomatic procedure that, integrated with traditional methods, can be useful for a rapid definition of rock fall susceptibility scenarios with the purpose of civil protection. Due to its morphology (steep slopes and narrow valleys), regional seismicity, and rock mass characteristics, the Nera Valley (Valnerina, Umbria Region, Italy) is characterized by high rock fall risk. With the aim of covering a wide range of features and investigating the main advantages and drawbacks of the proposed approach, data collection (terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and geomechanical surveys) was carried out at three different slopes. Detailed threedimensional (3D) models were created to reconstruct the shape and volume of the most unstable blocks, to define the position of the main rock fall source areas, and to precisely distinguish the outcropping materials and the position of the elements at risk for reliable runout analyses. The proposed approach can be useful in supporting proper maintenance and land management programs both in ordinary and in emergency circumstances. <...>