Mathematical problems of digital terrain analysis include interpolation of digital elevation models (DEMs), DEM generalization and denoising, and computation of morphometric variables by calculation of partial derivatives of elevation. Traditionally, these procedures are based on numerical treatments of two-variable discrete functions of elevation. We developed a spectral analytical method and ...

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), scheduled for launch in December 2008, will make the first space-based measurements of atmospheric CO2 with the precision, spatial and temporal resolution needed to characterize CO2 sources and sinks on regional spatial scales and seasonal to interannual time scales. Variations in surface topography have a direct impact on the retrieval of the columnaverag...

* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (B. 1537-5110/$ – see front matter a 2008 IAgrE doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.09.010 Digital Elevation Model (DEM) fusion was investigated for improving the overall accuracy of DEMs. The approach was applied to two public domain products: Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) DEM and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Refl...

Terrain aided positioning (TAP) is a kind of positioning method which acquires position information from the terrain elevation datum underneath the vehicle. This method has the characteristics of autonomy, allweather, anti-interference, strong stealthiness and high accuracy. It is widely used in the navigation system for various aircrafts, cruise missiles and underwater vehicles. The fundamenta...

This paper describes a method to automatically construct a 3D geometric model of an urban area by merging features extracted from a cadastral map of the area and from the corresponding digital elevation model (Dem). The cadastral map and the Dem are both transformed into two sets of contour segments: The segments extracted from the map represent contours of buildings and blocks of buildings, wh...

Information regarding topographic, meteorologic, geologic, and geomorphic characteristics is increasingly available in spatially explicit digital formats. Of interest is whether enhanced spatial processing of newly available digital grids can lead to new estimators of watershed characteristics which may in turn, improve our ability to predict extreme hydrologic events. Regional hydrologic model...

The main product of the TanDEM-X mission is a global interferometric digital elevation model (DEM) that is finally calibrated due to residual systematic offsets and tilts. For the final DEM product single acquisitions (socalled data takes) are calibrated and merged to tiles of a size of 1°x1°. Finally the globe will mostly be covered with two acquisitions. The quality of the calibration of the ...

The present study dealt with the problem of interpolating a continuous digital elevation model (DEM) from contour lines. Several methods were developed that make use of an interpolation algorithm. The basic idea behind the methodology has been the use of tools provided in a standard raster geographic information system (GIS) environment and the avoidance of problems related to the triangulation...

Calculations based on US Geological Survey (USGS) digital elevation models (DEMs) inherit any errors associated with that particular representation of topography. We investigated the potential impact of error in a USGS 30 m DEM on terrain analysis over 27 km. The difference in elevation between 2652 differential Global Positioning Systems measurements and USGS 30-m DEM derived elevations provid...

The hydrodynamics of low-lying riverine floodplains and wetlands play a critical role in hydrology and ecosystem processes. Because small topographic features affect floodplain storage and flow velocity, a hydrodynamic model setup of these regions imposes more stringent requirements on the input Digital Elevation Model (DEM) compared to upland regions with comparatively high slopes. This curren...