A New Data Structure for Refined Digital Elevation Models

A new DEM called Hybrid Mesh DEM (HM-DEM) with a hybrid mesh is put forth to improve the DEM’s capacity of representation of different kinds of micro-terrains and complex landscapes. The conceptual model of HM-DEM and its data structure, namely Hybrid Mesh Data Structures (HMDS) are also put forth and discussed in details. The HMDS is encapsulated into an object called HmDem which is comprised of a GridHeader structure, a SubGrid sub-object, many SubTin sub-objects, a PeaPnts and a FeaLines structure arrays by use of vc++ language. The HMDS is used to represent many micro-terrains like steep cave, eroded loess tableland with terraces and different kinds of channels and large landscapes with complicated terrains, such as river with steep banks, and so on, in our case study. The results show that HBDS can be used to depict different kinds of complex micro-terrains and landscapes mentioned above with high resolution and efficiency except for reverse terrains which slope angle is more than 90 degrees. What we have done about HBDS and HM-DEM becomes very important complementarities of the basic theory study and constructing technology of traditional DEMs. * Corresponding author.