Automated Extraction of Natural Drainage Density Patterns for the Conterminous United States through High-Performance Computing

Hydrographic networks form an important data foundation for cartographic base mapping and for hydrologic analysis. Drainage density patterns for these networks can be derived to characterize local landscape, bedrock and climate conditions, and further inform hydrological and geomorphological analysis by indicating areas where too few headwater channels are represented. Natural drainage density patterns are not consistently available in existing hydrographical data bases for the United States because compilation and capture criteria historically varied, along with climate, during the period of data collection over the various terrain types throughout the country. This paper demonstrates an automated workflow that is being tested in a high-performance computing environment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to map natural drainage density patterns at the 1:24,000-scale (24K) for the conterminous United States. Hydrographic network drainage patterns may be extracted from elevation data to guide corrections for existing hydrographic network data. The paper describes three stages in this workflow including data pre-processing, natural channel extraction, and generation of drainage density patterns from extracted channels. The workflow is implemented in parallel fashion by simultaneously executing procedures on multiple subbasin watersheds within the U.S. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Pre-processing defines parameters needed for the extraction process. Extraction proceeds in standard fashion: filling sinks, developing flow direction and weighted flow accumulation rasters. Drainage channels with assigned Strahler stream order are extracted within a subbasin and simplified. Drainage density patterns are then estimated with 100-m resolution and subsequently smoothed with a low-pass filter. The extraction process is found to be of better quality in higher slope terrains. Concurrent processing through the high-performance computing environment is shown to facilitate and refine the choice of drainage density extraction parameters and more readily improve extraction procedures than conventional processing.     

Drainage Network Modelling for Water-Sensitive Urban Design

While drainage network models may be relatively easy to assemble as a prerequisite to site selection for infrastructure supporting suburbanisation with Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), this is unlikely to be the case if the terrain is very subdued. Both ab initio and retro-fit WSUD implementation for such terrain refers, in the first instance, to a drainage network model that includes information on the scope for optimising residential space while conforming to: (1) statutory planning rules about the provision of public open space; and (2) WSUD drainage network design such that runoff waters are retained long enough to allow at least temporary storage. It is shown in this research that a technique applied to condition a LiDAR DEM can accurately model the drainage network of a basin at the land-parcel scale. The drainage network for ab initio WSUD is best defined using multi-flow modelling, with the relative significance of stream segments indicated by their stream order derived using the Strahler method. In contrast, when applying the retro-fit WSUD, the relative significance of segments given by the Shreve stream order method was found to be more useful. The approaches described in this article are designed to support the initial site planning stage and avoid the need for immediate and expensive detailed field survey. At the same time they can be deployed to show how much scope there is for WSUD retro-fit in established housing areas up-stream of an infill development area. Thus, basin-wide appraisal is facilitated and the need for earthmoving is minimised.     

Three‐dimensional terrain modeling with multiple‐source illumination

Three‐dimensional (3D) terrain modeling based on digital elevation models (DEMs) with the use of orthographic and perspective projections is a standard procedure implemented in many commercial and open‐source geoinformation systems. However, standard tools may be insufficient for 3D scientific visualization. In particular, single‐source illumination of 3D models may be deficient for topographically complex terrains. We present an approach for 3D terrain modeling with multiple‐source illumination in the virtual environment of the Blender free and open‐source software. The approach includes the following key stages: (1) automatic creation of a polygonal object; (2) selecting an algorithm to model the 3D geometry; (3) selecting a vertical exaggeration scale; (4) selecting types, parameters, a number, and positions of light sources; (5) selecting methods for generating shadows; (6) selecting a shading method for the 3D model; (7) selecting a material for the 3D model surface; (8) overlaying a texture on the 3D model; (9) setting a virtual camera; and (10) rendering the 3D model. To illustrate the approach, we processed a test DEM extracted from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean version 3.0 (IBCAO 3.0). The approach is currently being used to develop a system for geomorphometric modeling of the Arctic Ocean floor.     

计算机网络的分布式计算环境及分布式处理

本文对网络计算模式、分布式计算环境以及分布式处理机能作了分析和探讨。     

A Uniform Sky Illumination Model to Enhance Shading of Terrain and Urban Areas

Users of geographic information systems (GIS) usually render terrain using a point light source defined by an illumination vector. A terrain shaded from a single point provides good perceptual cues to surface orientation. This type of hill shading, however, does not include any visual cues to the relative height of surface elements. We propose shading the terrain under uniform diffuse illumination, where light arrives equally from all directions of a theoretical sky surrounding the terrain. Surface elements at lower elevations tend to have more of the sky obscured from view and are thus shaded darker. This tinting approach has the advantage that it provides more detailed renderings than point source illumination. We describe two techniques of computing terrain shading under uniform diffuse illumination. One technique uses a GIS–based hill-shading and shadowing tool to combine many point source renderings into one approximating the terrain under uniform diffuse illumination. The second technique uses a C++ computer algorithm for computing the inclination to the horizon in all azimuth directions at all points of the terrain. These virtual horizons are used to map sky brightness to the rendering of the terrain. To evaluate our techniques, we use two Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)—of the Schell Creek Range of eastern Nevada and a portion of downtown Houston, Texas, developed from Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) data. Renderings based on the uniform diffuse illumination model show more detailed changes in shading than renderings based on a point source illumination model.     

Evaluation of vertical accuracy of open source Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a quantitative representation of terrain and is important for Earth science and hydrological applications. DEM can be generated using photogrammetry, interferometry, ground and laser surveying and other techniques. Some of the DEMs such as ASTER, SRTM, and GTOPO 30 are freely available open source products. Each DEM contains intrinsic errors due to primary data acquisition technology and processing methodology in relation with a particular terrain and land cover type. The accuracy of these datasets is often unknown and is non-uniform within each dataset. In this study we evaluate open source DEMs (ASTER and SRTM) and their derived attributes using high postings Cartosat DEM and Survey of India (SOI) height information. It was found that representation of terrain characteristics is affected in the coarse postings DEM. The overall vertical accuracy shows RMS error of 12.62 m and 17.76 m for ASTER and SRTM DEM respectively, when compared with Cartosat DEM. The slope and drainage network delineation are also violated. The terrain morphology strongly influences the DEM accuracy. These results can be highly useful for researchers using such products in various modeling exercises.     

基于多核CPU的大规模DEM并行三维渲染

采用数据分块进行地形数据组织,基于缓存策略进行数据调度,对各地形块采用四叉树LoD(level of detail)的细节简化算法,利用多核CPU的计算特性实现四叉树LoD的并行生成,在动态构造地形三角网后,让不同的CPU核心负责不同地形区域以实现并行渲染,基于OpenMP及OpenThreads建立原型系统。实验结果表明,并行化渲染具有明显的性能优势。     

The National Geospatial Program

Fragmentary river segments have to be reconnected before addressing various routing and tracking problems. Elevation determines drainage directions, so the partial heights available through LiDAR may provide useful hints on how the segments should be joined. However, it is not trivial how this information can be applied. This paper bridges this gap by proposing the induced structure approach, which first approximates a terrain compatible with those observations, and then derives a river network from that induced terrain. Since the network is derived from an induced terrain that honors the partial observations, we expect that the derived river network will enforce most restrictions imposed by the partial observations. This paper also provides specifics on the implementation. In the first step regarding terrain reconstruction, we find that the optimal scheme depends on the height sample distribution. If the samples are sparsely yet evenly distributed, natural neighbor interpolation with stream burning (NN-SB) is the most cost-effective. If the samples are offered only at the given river locations, the hydrology-aware version of Over determined Palladian Partial Differential Equation (HA-ODETLAP) should be used instead. In the second step concerning river derivation, we find it necessary to favor those given river locations. Otherwise they will be missed out. We set their respective initial water amounts to the critical accumulation level to ensure a river flows across them. In the subsequent branch thinning process, those locations are protected from being trimmed. We foresee applications of our solution framework in a few 2D and 3D network tracing problems with similar observation distribution, like dendrite network reconstruction.     

非差模式的GNSS数据并行解算设计及实现

基于精密单点定位技术的非差模式是当前GNSS数据处理的主要策略之一。随着测站规模的增大,非差模式的处理时间也线性递增,传统的串行处理方法需消耗大量的计算时间。采用工厂模式和责任链模式实现了非差精密单点定位;利用轻量级的并行编程技术从底层设计并实现了基于任务的非差多核并行解算;进一步在网络多节点环境中建立并发布非差计算服务,实现了网络多节点协同并行解算GNSS数据。通过大量数据的测试与试验,验证了多核多节点的非差并行解算方案的高效性。试验结果表明,单节点多核并行、双节点网络并行、四节点网络并行、六节点网络并行的计算效率分别比单节点串行方案平均提高了2.74,5.30,9.38和14.69倍。     

基于RASM的紧支撑径向基函数自适应并行地形插值方法

快速、准确地对地形进行重建以生成数字高程模型是地理信息表达的重要研究内容,径向基函数（radial basis function,RBF）作为一种插值性能较优的空间插值方法,特别适合于重建复杂的地形模型,但随着已知地形采样点数量的增加,RBF插值模型求解速度变慢,同时插值矩阵过于庞大而导致插值模型求解困难甚至求解失败。针对这个问题,本文基于区域分解和施瓦兹并行原理进行地形插值,以紧支撑径向基函数（compact support RBF,CSRBF）构建基于所有地形采样数据的全局插值矩阵,并自适应求解子区域CSRBF插值节点紧支撑半径,基于限制性加性施瓦兹方法（restricted additive Schwarz method,RASM）采用多核并行架构对各局部子区域的插值矩阵进行求解。以某地区数字高程模型（DEM）数据进行插值实验,结果表明,本文方法能够对大规模地形数据进行准确重建,并且具有较高的求解效率。     

基于开放互操作标准的分布式地理空间模型共享研究

传统的单机环境和封闭式网络环境由于有限的资源利用能力, 难以充分支持分散地学数据、模型等资源的共享与应用集成。基于网络环境的信息交换特点, 提出了分布式地理空间模型共享的服务体系。该体系以数据、模型、元数据等互操作要素为核心, 通过网络将数据、模型等网络节点进行开放式耦合。针对地理空间模型服务的互操作问题, 提出了分布式环境下的模型共享服务交互接口, 该接口定义了模型服务元数据、模型服务的交互操作、模型服务的通讯方式等交互规则, 尽可能地降低模型服务与模型终端之间在数据交换、功能调用等方面的互操作困难。为了降低将模型共享为模型服务的实现难度, 设计和开发了地理空间模型共享平台, 并介绍了在该平台上发布地理空间模型的2种方法。最后介绍了研究成果在Prairie生态模型共享方面的应用实践。     

随机中点位移法在三维地形插值显示的适用性分析

三维地形模拟技术是当前计算机绘图领域中研究的重点之一。针对粗略地形的格网用分形技术进行插值,通过定量数据分析分形计算效率,预测产生的分析数据量。基于随机中点位移法中的菱形-方形法三维地形模拟;通过统计数据量和效率推求合适的递归次数范围,缓解计算量和地形逼真度之间矛盾的方法,以及用此方法进行三维地形的分析和预测的适用性分析。     

开源软件VTP中的大规模实时地形绘制算法实验研究

本文对开源3DGIS软件VTP中的一种视点相关多分辨率地形模型生成算法——McNally算法进行了实验研究,结果表明:三角形数量大于5000时,用该算法绘制的地形弹跳现象消失;地形赋予纹理后,分辨率变化对显示的效果的影响很小,因此,在满足显示效果的情况下,没有必要追求过高的分辨率,即三角形目标个数。     

三维地形场景并行渲染技术进展

对三维地形场景并行渲染过程涉及的地形数据分页及分块和基于缓存的并行数据调度机制进行了归纳,总结了三维地形场景并行渲染相关算法及基于分布式和微机多线程的实现方式,并对目前并行渲染所存在的问题和发展趋势进行了分析。     

多源数据协同的城市道路提取

城市道路的高精度提取可为城市三维表达、城市地形分析、城市建设规划、交通导航等提供数据基础和支撑。本文以合肥市局部城区为试验区,以开源路网、街景图像和遥感影像为数据源,在利用最大似然法进行初提取的基础上,通过空间分析、统计分析、几何量测、最小二乘拟合等方法进行粘连分割、缺失处理和交叉口细化等关键处理,构建了多源数据协同的城市道路提取方法,并对提取结果进行了精度评价和分析。试验结果表明,本文提出的城市道路提取方法优于最大似然和面向对象方法,提取总体精度为96.65%,Kappa系数为93.71%,道路宽度偏离标准差为0.03m,特别是对同物异谱、同谱异物及遮挡等造成的信息提取不全问题具有良好的改善效果。     

基于Java 3D的地形可视化及关键技术研究

3维地形可视化是科学计算可视化、计算机动画和3维地理信息系统的核心。Java 3D是Java语言的标准扩展,是跨平台的3维可视化编程接口。本文讨论了基于Java 3D技术实现地形的3维可视化及旨在提高渲染速度和提高绘图效率的几种关键技术。     

基于云计算的三维地理空间信息服务的表达

当前云计算的发展已能支持高性能的地理空间服务,比如在数字城市和电子商务等行业。Apache基金支持下的开源软件框架Hadoop,可以用来构建一个云环境的集群用来存储和处理高性能的地理空间数据。开放地理空间联盟(OGC)的Web三维服务(W3DS)就是这样一个很好的三维的地理空间数据服务标准。在标准的云计算环境下将是一个更好的应用示范。基于此,本文研究了OGC的W3DS服务在云计算环境下的实验结果。实验采用Apache的Hadoop框架作为三维地理空间信息服务实验展示的基础。实验结果对展示高性能的三维地理空间信息提供了有价值的参考。     

基于Web的地下管网溯源分析算法研究

利用.NetCore的并行运算机制,实现基于Web的高性能地下管网的溯源分析功能。实践证明当某点管网数据监测出现异常时,能够快速分析所有可能流经该点源头管网信息,并在地图上动态展示分析结果,达到快速定位查询管网源头的区域管理目的。     

An incremental LOD method based on grid and its application in distributed terrain visualization

Incremental LOD can be transmitted on the network as a stream, then users on the clients can easily catch the skeleton of terrain without downloading all the data from the server. Detailed information in a local part can be added gradually when users zoom it in without redundant data transmission in this procedure. To do this, an incremental LOD method is put forward according to the regular arragnement of grid. This method applies arbitrary sized grid terrains and is not restricted to square ones with a side measuring 2k+1 samples. Maximum height errors are recorded when the LOD is preprocessed and it can be visualized with the geometrical Mipmaps to reduce the screen error.     

An Incremental LOD Method Based on Grid and Its Application in Distributed Terrain Visualization

Incremental LOD can be transmitted on the network as a stream, then users on the clients can easily catch the skeleton of terrain without downloading all the data from the server. Detailed information in a local part can be added gradually when users zoom it in without redundant data transmission in this procedure .To do this, an incremental LOD method is put forward according to the regular arrangement of grid. This method applies arbitrary sized grid terrains and is not restricted to square ones with a side measuring 2^k 1 samples. Maximum height errors are recorded when the LOD is preprocessed and it can be visualized with the geometrical Mipmaps to reduce the screen error.