Determining topographic shielding from digital elevation models for cosmogenic nuclide analysis: a GIS model for discrete sample sites

Topographic shielding(TS) is an important factor in cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating. The development of geographic information systems(GIS) and the availability of digital elevation models(DEMs) make it possible to derive this factor directly from a DEM. Most available GIS models derive the TS factors for an area(all cells in a DEM) without the consideration of surface conditions of individual sites, such as the strike, dip,and height above ground, into the calculation. This paper presents a new GIS model to derive the TS factors for discrete sample sites. This model uses the Skyline and Skyline Graph functions in ArcGIS to extract the set of azimuth and elevation angles of topographic obstructions around each site from a DEM(considering the sample height above ground)and then incorporates the strike and dip information of the sample surface to derive the TS factor. All processing tools and steps are streamlined in ArcGIS modelbuilder and this model can be run like a standard ArcGIS geoprocessing tool. It provides an easy and user-friendly means to derive the TS factors for discrete samples based on a DEM and the measured strike, dip and sample height for each site.

Extraction and Analysis of Gully Head of Loess Plateau in China Based on Digital Elevation Model

In China′s Loess Plateau area, gully head is the most active zone of a drainage system in gully areas. The differentiation of loess gully head follows geospatial patterns and reflects the process of the loess landform development and evolution of its drainage system to some extent. In this study, the geomorphic meaning, basic characteristics, morphological structure and the basic types of loess gully heads were systematically analysed. Then, the loess gully head′s conceptual model was established, and an extraction method based on Digital Elevation Model(DEM) for loess gully head features and elements was proposed. Through analysing the achieved statistics of loess gully head features, loess gully heads have apparently similar and different characteristics depending on the different loess landforms where they are found. The loess head characteristics reflect their growth period and evolution tendency to a certain degree, and they indirectly represent evolutionary mechanisms. In addition, the loess gully developmental stages and the evolutionary processes can be deduced by using loess gully head characteristics. This study is of great significance for development and improvement of the theoretical system for describing loess gully landforms.

Determining Topographic Shielding from Digital Elevation Models for Cosmogenic Nuclide Analysis:a GIS Approach and Field Validation

Topographic shielding of cosmic radiation flux is a key parameter in using cosmogenic nuclides to determine surface exposure ages or erosion rates. Traditionally, this parameter is measured in the field and uncertainty and/or inconsistency may exist among different investigators. This paper provides an ArcGIS python code to determine topographic shielding factors using digital elevation models （DEMs）. This code can be imported into ArcGIS as a geoprocessing tool with a user-friendly graphical interface. The DEM-derived parameters using this method were validated with field measurements in central Tian Shan. Results indicate that DEM-derived shielding factors are consistent with field-measured values. It provides a valuable tool to save fieldwork efforts and has the potential to provide consistent results for different regions in the world to facilitate the comparison of cosmogenie nuclide results.

Comparative study and error analysis of digital elevation model interpolations

Researchers in P.R.China commonly create triangulate irregular networks(TINs) from contours and then convert TINs into digital elevation models(DEMs).However,the DEM produced by this method can not precisely describe and simulate key hydrological features such as rivers and drainage borders.Taking a hilly region in southwestern China as a research area and using ArcGISTM software,we analyzed the errors of different interpolations to obtain distributions of the errors and precisions of different algorithms and to provide references for DEM productions.The results show that different interpolation errors satisfy normal distributions,and large error exists near the structure line of the terrain.Furthermore,the results also show that the precision of a DEM interpolated with the Australian National University digital elevation model(ANUDEM) is higher than that interpolated with TIN.The DEM interpolated with TIN is acceptable for generating DEMs in the hilly region of southwestern China.

Modified method for extraction of watershed boundary with digital elevation modeling

Boundary extraction of watershed is an important step in forest landscape research. The boundary of the upriver wa-tershed of the Hunhe River in the sub-alpine Qingyuan County of eastern Liaoning Province, China was extracted by digital elevation modeling (DEM) data in ArcInfo8.1. Remote sensing image of the corresponding region was applied to help modify its copy according to Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) image抯 profuse geomorphological structure information. Both the DEM-dependent boundary and modified copy were overlapped with county map and drainage network map to visually check the effects of result. Overlap of county map suggested a nice extraction of the boundary line since the two layers matched precisely, which indicated the DEM-dependent boundary by program was effective and precise. Further upload of drainage network showed discrepancies between the boundary and the drainage network. Altogether, there were three sections of the extraction result that needed to correct. Compared with this extraction boundary, the modified boundary had a better match to the drainage network as well as to the county map. Comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the program extraction has generally fine precision in position and excels the digitized result by hand. The errors of the DEM-dependant extraction are due to the fact that it is difficult for program to recognize sections of complex landform especially altered by human activities, but these errors are discernable and adjustable because the spatial resolution of ETM image is less than that of DEM. This study result proved that application of remote sensing information could help obtain better result when DEM method is used in extraction of watershed boundary.

Re-delineating mountainous areas with three topographic parameters in Mainland Southeast Asia using ASTER global digital elevation model data

Tropical mountainous areas not only provide substantial carbon storage and play an important role in global biological diversity, but also provide basic livelihood for a large number of poor ethnic minorities. However, there is no unified and explicit definition for mountainous areas. The local elevation range(LER) is a crucial structural parameter for delineating mountainous areas. However, current LER products are limited by the subjective selection of an optimum statistical window or coarser spatial resolution of topographical data. In this study, we presented an approach using thresholds for three topographic parameters, elevation, slope, and LER, derived from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model(ASTER GDEM) to redelineate the vast mountainous areas of mainland Southeast Asia(MSEA). The mean change-point analysis method was applied to determine the optimum statistical window of the 1 arc second(approximately 30 m)-resolution GDEM LER. The results showed that: First, the optimum statistical window is 38 × 38 cell units(width × height) in a rectangular neighborhood, or an area of about 1.30 km^2 for calculating GDEM LER in MSEA. Second, the LER of more than 80% of the area ranges from 30 m to 499 m in MSEA. The LERs in the northern and northwestern MSEA are greater than their counterparts in the south and east. Third, the area of the re-delineated mountainous areas was 83.52 × 10~4 km^2, about 38.71% of the total area. Spatially, the mountainous areas are mainly distributed in the north and northeast of MSEA. The re-delineated 30-m resolution map of the mountainous areas will serve as a topographical dataset for monitoring mountainrelated land surface changes in MSEA. The parameter-modified mountain extraction procedure can be expanded to delineate global mountainous areas.

Effect of digital elevation models on monitoring slope displacements in open-pit mine by differential interferometry synthetic aperture radar

Displacement monitoring in open-pit mines is one of the important tasks for safe management of mining processes.Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar(DInSAR),mounted on an artificial satellite,has the potential to be a cost-effective method for monitoring surface displacements over extensive areas,such as open-pit mines.DInSAR requires the ground surface elevation data in the process of its analysis as a digital elevation model(DEM).However,since the topography of the ground surface in open-pit mines changes largely due to excavations,measurement errors can occur due to insufficient information on the elevation of mining areas.In this paper,effect of different elevation models on the accuracy of the displacement monitoring results by DInSAR is investigated at a limestone quarry.In addition,validity of the DInSAR results using an appropriate DEM is examined by comparing them with the results obtained by global positioning system(GPS)monitoring conducted for three years at the same limestone quarry.It is found that the uncertainty of DEMs induces large errors in the displacement monitoring results if the baseline length of the satellites between the master and the slave data is longer than a few hundred meters.Comparing the monitoring results of DInSAR and GPS,the root mean square error(RMSE)of the discrepancy between the two sets of results is less than 10 mm if an appropriate DEM,considering the excavation processes,is used.It is proven that DInSAR can be applied for monitoring the displacements of mine slopes with centimeter-level accuracy.

Uncertainty of Slope Length Derived from Digital Elevation Models of the Loess Plateau, China

Although many studies have investigated slope gradient uncertainty derived from Digital Elevation Models(DEMs), the research concerning slope length uncertainty is far from mature. This discrepancy affects the availability and accuracy of soil erosion as well as hydrological modeling. This study investigates the formation and distribution of existing errors and uncertainties in slope length derivation based on 5-m resolution DEMs of the Loess Plateau in the middle of China. The slope length accuracy in three different landform areas is examined to analyse algorithm effects. The experiments indicate that the accuracy of the flat test area is lower than that of the rougher areas. The value from the specific contributing area(SCA) method is greater than the cumulative slope length(CSL), and the differences between these two methods arise from the shape of the upslope area. The variation of mean slope length derived from various DEM resolutions and landforms. The slope length accuracy decreases with increasing grid size and terrain complexity at the six test sites. A regression model is built to express the relationship of mean slope length with DEM resolution less than 85 m and terrain complexity represented by gully density. The results support the understanding of the slope length accuracy, thereby aiding in the effective evaluation of the modeling effect of surface process.

Facets of Uncertainty in Digital Elevation and Slope Modeling

This paper investigates the differences that result from applying different approaches to uncertainty modeling and reports an experimental examining error estimation and propagation in elevation and slope, with the latter derived from the former. It is confirmed that significant differences exist between uncertainty descriptors, and propagation of uncertainty to end products is immensely affected by the specification of source uncertainty.

LAN Tool: A GIS Tool for the Improvement of Digital Elevation Models Using Drainage Network Attributes

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are constructed using altitude point data and various interpolation techniques. The quality and accuracy of DEMs depend on data point density and the interpolation technique used. Usually however, altitude point data especially in plain areas do not provide realistic DEMs, mainly due to errors produced as a result of the interpolation technique, resulting in imprecise topographic representation of the landscape. Such inconsistencies, which are mainly in the form of surface depressions, are especially crucial when DEMs are used as input to hydrologic modeling for impact studies, as they have a negative impact on the model’s performance. This study presents a Geographical Information System (GIS) tool, named LAN (Line Attribute Network), for the improvement of DEM construction techniques and their spatial accuracy, using drainage network attributes. The developed tool does not alter the interpolation technique, but provides higher point density in areas where most DEM problems occur, such as lowland areas or places where artificial topographic features exist. Application of the LAN tool in two test sites showed that it provides considerable DEM improvement.

基于DEM的雷达阵地选址预处理方法研究

防空预警雷达阵地选址的优劣直接影响雷达本身及防空武器作战效能的发挥.针对基于数字高程模型(DEM)的常规实时计算方法存在耗时、耗力的问题,在明确阵地选址预处理内容的基础上,提出了预处理的具体流程和参数计算方法.通过数据预处理,以空间换时间的方式解决了阵地自动选址计算量大、耗时长的问题.实例仿真结果表明,该雷达阵地选址预处理方法大大缩短了自动选址时间,有效提高了选址效率.

深度残差频率自适应的DEM超分辨重建

目前超分辨率重建技术运用于诸多场景,但对于数字高程模型(digital elevation model,DEM)的重建存在许多挑战,针对无法充分利用DEM复杂地形特征导致的细节缺失和失真问题,提出了深度残差频率自适应的DEM超分辨重建模型,由多个高低频特征提取模块组成残差网络结构,提升对DEM特征的整体感知能力,并加入频率选择特征提取模块,增强对复杂地形特征的识别和捕捉能力,其次在模型中加入了空洞空间金字塔池化,通过融合多尺度信息,改善重建质量并充分保留地形特征的细节和结构,最终在梯度域和高度域双重约束下完成超分辨率重建.实验结果表明,在以两种精度的陕西秦岭高程图作为实验数据下,深度残差频率自适应DEM超分辨率模型相较于其他先进模型,在各个指标上均取得了提升,重建后的DEM细节更加丰富、纹理更加清晰.

Analysis of the Quality of Daily DEM Generation with Geosynchronous InSAR

Up-to-date digital elevation model(DEM)products are essential in many fields such as hazards mitigation and urban management.Airborne and low-earth-orbit(LEO)space-borne interferometric synthetic aperture radar(InSAR)has been proven to be a valuable tool for DEM generation.However,given the limitations of cost and satellite repeat cycles,it is difficult to generate or update DEMs very frequently(e.g.,on a daily basis)for a very large area(e.g.,continental scale or greater).Geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar(GEOSAR)satellites fly in geostationary earth orbits,allowing them to observe the same ground area with a very short revisit time(daily or shorter).This offers great potential for the daily DEM generation that is desirable yet thus far impossible with space-borne sensors.In this work,we systematically analyze the quality of daily GEOSAR DEM.The results indicate that the accuracy of a daily GEOSAR DEM is generally much lower than what can be achieved with typical LEO synthetic aperture radar(SAR)sensors;therefore,it is important to develop techniques to mitigate the effects of errors in GEOSAR DEM generation.

Modelling of piping collapses and gully headcut landforms: Evaluating topographic variables from different types of DEM

The geomorphic studies are extremely dependent on the quality and spatial resolution of digital elevation model(DEM)data.The unique terrain characteristics of a particular landscape are derived from DEM,which are responsible for initiation and development of ephemeral gullies.As the topographic features of an area significantly influences on the erosive power of the water flow,it is an important task the extraction of terrain features from DEM to properly research gully erosion.Alongside,topography is highly correlated with other geo-environmental factors i.e.geology,climate,soil types,vegetation density and floristic composition,runoff generation,which ultimately influences on gully occurrences.Therefore,terrain morphometric attributes derived from DEM data are used in spatial prediction of gully erosion susceptibility(GES)mapping.In this study,remote sensing-Geographic information system(GIS)techniques coupled with machine learning(ML)methods has been used for GES mapping in the parts of Semnan province,Iran.Current research focuses on the comparison of predicted GES result by using three types of DEM i.e.Advanced Land Observation satellite(ALOS),ALOS World 3D-30 m(AW3D30)and Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer(ASTER)in different resolutions.For further progress of our research work,here we have used thirteen suitable geo-environmental gully erosion conditioning factors(GECFs)based on the multi-collinearity analysis.ML methods of conditional inference forests(Cforest),Cubist model and Elastic net model have been chosen for modelling GES accordingly.Variable’s importance of GECFs was measured through sensitivity analysis and result show that elevation is the most important factor for occurrences of gullies in the three aforementioned ML methods(Cforest=21.4,Cubist=19.65 and Elastic net=17.08),followed by lithology and slope.Validation of the model’s result was performed through area under curve(AUC)and other statistical indices.The validation result of AUC has shown that Cforest is the most appropriate model for predicting the GES assessment in three different DEMs(AUC value of Cforest in ALOS DEM is 0.994,AW3D30 DEM is 0.989 and ASTER DEM is 0.982)used in this study,followed by elastic net and cubist model.The output result of GES maps will be used by decision-makers for sustainable development of degraded land in this study area.

Design Bistatic Interferometric DEM Generation Algorithm and Its Theoretical Accuracy Analysis for LuTan-1 Satellites

LuTan-1(LT-1)is a constellation with two full-polarization L-band radar satellites designed by China,and the first satellite was scheduled to be launched in December 2021 and the second one in January 2022.The LT-1 will be operated for deformation monitoring in repeat-pass mode,and for DEM generation in bistatic mode,improving self-sufficiency of SAR data for the field of geology,earthquake,disaster reduction,geomatics,forestry and so on.In this paper,we focused on designing an algorithm for interferometric DEM generation using LT-1 bistatic satellites.The basic principle,main error sources and errors control of the DEM generation algorithm of LT-1 were systematically analyzed.The experiment results demonstrated that:①The implemented algorithm had rigorous resolution with a theoretic accuracy better than 0.03 m for DEM generation.②The errors in satellite velocity and Doppler centroid had no obvious effect on DEM accuracy and they could be neglected.While the errors in position,baseline,slant range and interferometric phase had a significant effect on DEM accuracy.And the DEM error caused by baseline error was dominated,followed by the slant range error,interferometric phase error and satellite position error.③To obtain an expected DEM accuracy of 2 m,the baseline error must be strictly controlled and its accuracy shall be 1.0 mm or better for Cross-Track and Normal-Direction component,respectively.And the slant range error and interferometric phase error shall be reasonably controlled.The research results were of great significance for accurately grasping the accuracy of LT-1 data products and their errors control,and could provide a scientific auxiliary basis for LT-1 in promoting global SAR technology progress and the generation of high-precision basic geographic data.

Estimation of Ground Deformation Caused by the Earthquake (M7.2) in Japan,2008,from the Geomorphic Image Analysis of High Resolution LiDAR DEMs

In this study, a new method for quantitative and efficient measurement for the ground surface movement was developed. The feature of this technique is to identify geomorphic characteristics by image matching analysis, using the intelligent images made from high resolution DEM(Digital Elevation Model). This method is useful to extract the small ground displacement where the surface shape was not intensely deformed.

DEM数据坐标转换和成果质量的检查方法

针对数字高程模型(DEM)数据三维坐标转换和转换成果质量检查的需求,本文研究了基于阿尔克·吉斯(ArcGIS)开发引擎平台的DEM数据的平面和高程坐标转换技术方法;同时根据DEM数据本身的特点,研究确定了合理的DEM数据转换成果质量检查内容和指标,解决了DEM数据转换成果质量检查标准的实际生产应用问题。本项目研究成果可保障北京市DEM数据在统一的基准下应用,推动与测绘地理信息相关的规划、建设和管理工作。

The J_2 invariant relative configuration of spaceborne SAR interferometer for digital elevation measurement

A 3-craft formation configuration is proposed to perform the digital elevation model （DEM） for the distributed spacebome interferometric synthetic aperture radar （InSAR）, and it is optimized by the modified ant colony algorithm to have the best compatibility with J2 invariant orbits created by differential correction algorithm. The configuration has succeeded in assigning the across-track baseline to vary periodically and with its mean value equal to the optimal baseline determined by the relative height measurement accuracy. The required relationship between crafts＇ magnitudes and phases is formulated for the general case of interferometry measure from non-orthographic and non-lateral view. The J2 invariant configurations created by differential correction algorithm are employed to investigate their compatibility with the required configuration. The colony algorithm is applied to search the optimal configuration holding the near-constant across-track baseline under the J2 perturbation, and the absolute height measurement accuracy is preferable as expected.

A Comparative Study of Digital Terrain Data for Visibility Analysis in the Planning and Management of Scenic Resources

A DEM （digital elevation model） was once used to calculate viewsheds in the early days of GIS applications. The emergence of LiDAR （light detection and ranging） data which are likely to have higher spatial resolutions than traditional DEMs contributed to the improvements of calculation accuracy greatly. The objective of this study is to validate that the LiDAR data calculate and predict a viewshed better than the traditional low-resolution DEMs with 10 m and 30 m spatial resolutions. Using digital terrain data acquired for part of the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho, calculation accuracy for viewsheds was scrutinized in depth. Four hundred and eighty four （484） observation points were selected randomly to compute viewsheds from the 1-m pixel, bare-earth LiDAR data and from the traditional 10 m and 30 m DEMs. The comparison of their RMSEs （root-mean-squared-error） values proves the newer generation of digital terrain data produces more accurate viewsheds than ones generated from the traditional DEMs. Analyses of variance and t-tests show the viewsheds calculated from various terrain models are statistically different. Therefore, findings from this study suggest that high-quality LiDAR data, if available, should be used for decision-making in planning for and the management of the scenic resources.

基于DEM地形特征因子的海原断裂带中东段构造活动性分析

海原断裂带是中国西北地区重要的活动断裂带,也是青藏高原东北边界的重要组成部分。海原断裂带活动性研究对深入了解青藏高原东北缘构造格局和第四纪构造地貌具有重要意义,对于地质灾害预测和地质风险评估也有很大的参考作用。本次研究基于数字高程模型(DEM)数据,利用ArcGIS软件对该段各流域的地貌参数进行提取计算,定量获得该段各流域的地貌形态特征,最后对研究区的相对构造活动性程度进行分析。面积-高程积分(HI)表明断裂带两侧的地形梯度差异显著,断裂带及其南侧盆地坡度更大,山地更陡峭,地貌侵蚀作用也更强。流域盆地不对称度(AF)表明研究区内海原断裂带中东段由西至东发生掀斜的程度越来越小,流域盆地的形态也从不对称向对称变化。盆地延伸率(Re)则显示断裂北侧盆地的狭长程度要明显高于断裂南侧,但更倾向于由于早期构造活动或者地壳停止运动后的缓慢调整和变形造成。标准化坡降指数(SL)结果显示断裂带南侧河流坡降较大,北侧则较小;经过断裂的流域SL值中,王滩-黄鼠滩段(西段)明显要高于其他段,表明此段的地貌演化的活跃程度明显更高。地震活动则显示断裂东段地震更为密集,但西段受哈斯山段复杂的断层-褶皱系统影响较大,因此综合地形特征因子的分析结果,可以推断海原断裂带中东段存在断裂活动性差异。南侧地形陡峭、起伏较大且河流发育良好,表明该区域可能存在较活跃的构造活动,而北侧地形相对平缓、河流发育较弱以及较小的坡降指数,则表明该区域可能存在较弱的构造活动。