面向地貌学本源的数字地形分析研究进展与展望

数字地形分析(DTA)是地理信息科学(GIS)研究的热点.但是,当前基于数字高程模型(DEM)的数字地形分析在地貌学研究中存在重形态轻机理、重现象轻过程、重地上轻地下等问题,急需从单一的地貌形态分析,迈向面向成因、过程与机理等地貌学本源问题的研究转变.据此,本文系统梳理了面向地貌学本源的数字地形分析的相关研究现状,并从...     

我国数字高程模型与数字地形分析研究进展

数字高程模型是最重要的国家基础地理信息数据,基于GIS的数字地形分析的理论、方法与应用,是当今地理学、地貌学界,特别是地理信息科学研究的热点问题。本文从DEM的数据模型、数字地形分析的不确定性、分析方法、尺度效应、高性能计算方法以及地学应用等方面,对我国学者在该领域的研究情况,特别是研究成果进行较全面的梳理与分析。综述显示,我国具有一批从事数字高程模型与数字地形分析的高水平研究力量,研究方向紧跟国际前沿,并取得了丰硕的成果,部分研究内容具有显著创新,年轻一代科学家正加速成长。在黄土高原、青藏高原的区域数字地形分析方面更彰显我国科学家的优势与特色,在国际学术界产生了重要的影响。     

面向地貌学本源的DEM增值理论框架与构建方法

数字高程模型（DEM）在表达地貌形态、认知地表过程、揭示地学机理等研究中发挥着基础性的作用,是重要的地理空间数据模型,广泛地应用于地学分析与建模中。但是,传统DEM具有属性单一的天然缺陷,难以支撑面向地学过程与机理挖掘的地球系统科学研究。亟待在传统DEM的基础上实现其数据模型的增值,服务于新地貌学研究范式和新对地观测技术背景下的数字地形建模与分析。立足于以上问题,本文构建了DEM增值的理论框架,主要包括DEM增值的概念、内涵、内容、类别、不同增值类别之间的相互关系,以及此理论框架的研究意义和应用范畴。提出了DEM增值的构建方法,包含：① 强调地上地下一体化、时间空间相耦合的DEM空间维度和时间维度增值方法;② 重视地下、地表和地上物质构成,形态属性耦合的物质属性和形态属性增值方法;③ 顾及自然过程、人工作用的地物对象、地貌形态的地物要素和形体要素增值方法。最后,分别以数字阶地模型、数字坡地模型和数字流域模型为例,阐释DEM在面向地貌学本源问题时的不同增值方法及应用场景。期望通过对DEM进行维度、属性和要素3个层面的增值,实现现代对地观测技术背景下数字高程模型表达方法的突破,并支撑知识驱动的数字地貌问题分析。     

数字地形分析的理论、方法与应用

数字高程模型自20世纪50年代首次被提出以来,就以其简洁的数据组织方式、对地形的直观表达、简单高效的地形因子解译方法而显示了其在地学领域应用的巨大潜力。本文在全面检索和分析前人相关研究成果的基础上,首先将数字地形分析 (Digital Terrain Analysis,简称DTA) 的各种分析方法总结为四类,即坡面地形因子分析、特征地形要素分析、地形统计分析以及基于DEM的地学模型分析,并简要总结了每种分析方法的主要内容;其次,探讨了数字地形分析的精度及尺度问题,指出尺度效应、最适宜尺度选择以及尺度转换是DEM地形分析中的基本尺度问题;然后,论文介绍了DTA在地貌、水文、土壤、地质灾害、农业等领域的应用现状;最后,提出了数字地形分析发展方向,指出数字地形分析的概念框架亟待完善、模型构建精度有待提高、地形分析方法需要扩展,尤其是实现DEM模型嵌入的一体化分析方法,以求得到与现实世界地理环境更为接近的模拟。     

栅格数字地形分析中的尺度问题研究方法

栅格数字高程模型（DEM）固有的尺度特征给以栅格DEM为基本输入的数字地形分析带来各种尺度问题。对栅格数字地形分析中涉及的尺度进行梳理,以分辨率和分析窗口为重点,对栅格数字地形分析中的多尺度表达、尺度效应、适宜尺度选择、尺度转换等尺度问题及其相互关系进行阐述;分别介绍各类尺度问题的现有定量研究方法,尤其对尺度效应定量刻画和适宜尺度选择方法,根据不同方法计算定量指标所利用的信息类别进行分类归纳;最后讨论了其中有待进一步开展研究的几方面工作。     

论DEM地形分析中的尺度问题

DEM及其地形分析具有强烈的尺度依赖特征。本文以黄高原地区的研究为例,结合地学建模和地学模拟的需求,重点讨论DEM地形分析中的尺度问题。文中从DEM建立与应用出发,首先建立了DEM地形分析中的尺度概念体系,剖析了各类尺度之间的关系,其次讨论了尺度所引起的各种地形分析效应问题,最后探讨了DEM地形分析中的尺度转换类型和方法。     

Mark on the globe: a quest for scientific bases of geographic information and its international influence

David M. Mark published his first journal article in 1970. Since then, he has written or coauthored more than 220 publications over a period of 40 years as of 28 May 2012. Based on data from Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar, Mark’s publications have been cited over 7410 times by researchers in more than 80 countries or regions as of 28 May 2012, when this paper was first prepared. The geographic extent of Mark’s scholarly influence is truly global. An examination of his 20 most cited articles reveals that his work in diverse areas as digital elevation models, geomorphology, geographic cognition, and ontology of the geospatial domain enjoyed a lasting impact worldwide.     

Third-order geomorphometric variables (derivatives): definition,computation and utilization of changes of curvatures

Third-order geomorphometric variables (based on third derivatives of the altitudinal field) have been neglected in geomorphometry, but their application to the delimitation of surface objects will lead to their increasing significance in future. New techniques of computation, presented and evaluated here, facilitate their use. This paper summarizes recent knowledge concerning definition, computation and geomorphologic interpretation of these variables. Formulae defining various third-order variables are unified based on the physical definition of slope gradient. Methods for their computation are compared from the point of view of method error and error generated by digital elevation model (DEM) inaccuracy. For exact mathematical test surfaces, the most natural and simple variant of the method of central differences (CD2) shows a method error 2–3 times smaller than the other methods used recently in geomorphometry. However, success in coping with DEM inaccuracy depends (for a given grid mesh) on the number and weighting of points from which the derivative is computed. This was tested for surfaces with varying degrees of random error. Here least squares-based methods are the most effective for mixed derivatives (especially for finer grids and less accurate DEMs), while a variant of the CD method, that repeats numerical evaluation of first derivatives (CD1), is the most successful for derivatives in cardinal directions. The CD2 method is generally the most successful for coarser grids where the method error is dominant.

Utilization of third-order variables is documented from examples of terrain feature (ridge, valley and edge) extraction and from a first statistical test of the hypothesis that real segments of the land surface have a tendency to a constant value of some morphometric variable. For detection of (sharp) ridges and valleys, it is shown that the rate of change of tangential curvature is inadequate: rate of change of normal curvature is also required. A basic confirmation of the constant-value tendency is provided.     

Cartography: visualization of spatial data (3rd ed.), by Menno-Jan Kraak and Ferjan Ormeling

Conventionally, a raster operation that needs to scan the entire image employs only one scanning order (i.e., single scanning order (SSO)), and the scan usually runs from upper left to lower right and row by row. We explore the idea of alternately applying multiple scanning orders (MSO) to raster operations that are based on the local direction, using the flow accumulation (FA) calculation as an example. We constructed several FA methods based on MSO, and compared them with those widely used methods. Our comparison includes experiments over digital elevation models (DEMs) of different landforms and DEMs of different resolutions. For each DEM, we calculated both single-direction FA (SD-FA) and multi-direction FA (MD-FA). In the theoretical aspect, we deducted the time complexity of an MSO sequential algorithm (MSOsq) for FA based on empirical equations in hydrology. Findings from the experiments include the following: (1) an MSO-based method is generally superior to its counterpart SSO-based method. (2) The advantage of MSO is more significant in the SD-FA calculation than in the MD-FA calculation. (3) For SD-FA, the best method among the compared methods is the one that combines the MSOsq and the depth-first algorithm. This method surpasses the commonly recommended dependency graph algorithm, in both speed and memory use. (4) The differences between the compared methods are not sensitive to specific landforms. (5) For SD-FA, the advantage of MSO-based methods is more obvious in a higher DEM resolution, but this does not apply to MD-FA.     

Loess terrain segmentation from digital elevation models based on the region growth method

Regional automatic segmentation – automatic terrain segmentation according to terrain features – is significant for modern geographical analysis. We propose a new approach of terrain region segmentation based on the region growth method. This method features actual runoff nodes as seed points. The corresponding growth threshold is defined based on statistical analysis of quantitative indexes of topographic features. Terrain segmentation of some regions is completed using the growth threshold. The corresponding edge boundaries of different terrain regions are extracted by image processing. Thus, the automatic segmentation of the terrain region is realized by the edge boundary. The application of the method to a typical Chinese loess landform area and automatic segmentation of three types of terrain regions – gully interfluve land, gully slope land, and gully groove land – are achieved by analyzing characteristics of the curvature structure of surface profiles. Segmentation results, compared with results of visual interpretation from a high-precision digital orthophoto map, show an average accuracy of segmentation of 93.51%. Topographic factor features of segmentation results are statistically analyzed. This study presents an effective and practical approach for segmenting terrain regions. This approach may be incorporated into the theory and method system of digital terrain analysis.     

基于不同算法等高线曲率的提取与分析

等高线曲率是一个重要的地形属性,反应了地形表面在水平方向的凹凸性,表达了地表物质运动的发散和汇合模式。基于安塞县县南沟小流域的矢量等高线数据和DEM,分别利用圆拟合算法(相邻三点法、间隔三点法和最小二乘法)和曲面拟合模型(E模型、S模型和Z模型)提取等高线曲率,通过对实地地形的对比分析,结果表明:(1)在矢量等高线数据的计算结果中,三点拟合法计算结果相比最小二乘法结果差异大,对等高线曲率空间格局分布描述更准确;(2)最小二乘法计算的结果频数分布集中程度最高,两种三点拟合法计算结果频数曲线差别微小;(3)在栅格数字高程模型的计算结果中,基于S模型计算结果在空间格局上较E模型和Z模型的结果差别大,基于E模型的计算结果对等高线曲率描述效果更好。结果能准确说明采用不同算法计算等高线曲率的差别,对在实际数字地形分析中有重要的意义,可为等高线曲率计算提供重要参考。     

Spatial analysis of geometric design consistency and road sight distance

Because of the high number of crashes occurring on highways, it is necessary to intensify the search for new tools that help in understanding their causes. This research explores the use of a geographic information system (GIS) for an integrated analysis, taking into account two accident-related factors: design consistency (DC) (based on vehicle speed) and available sight distance (ASD) (based on visibility). Both factors require specific GIS software add-ins, which are explained. Digital terrain models (DTMs), vehicle paths, road centerlines, a speed prediction model, and crash data are integrated in the GIS. The usefulness of this approach has been assessed through a study of more than 500 crashes. From a regularly spaced grid, the terrain (bare ground) has been modeled through a triangulated irregular network (TIN). The length of the roads analyzed is greater than 100 km. Results have shown that DC and ASD could be related to crashes in approximately 4% of cases. In order to illustrate the potential of GIS, two crashes are fully analyzed: a car rollover after running off road on the right side and a rear-end collision of two moving vehicles. Although this procedure uses two software add-ins that are available only for ArcGIS, the study gives a practical demonstration of the suitability of GIS for conducting integrated studies of road safety.     

Hybrid terrain rendering based on the external edge primitive

Hybrid terrain models combine large regular data sets and high-resolution irregular meshes [triangulated irregular network (TIN)] for topographically and morphologically complex terrain features such as man-made microstructures or cliffs. In this paper, a new method to generate and visualize this kind of 3D hybrid terrain models is presented. This method can integrate geographic data sets from multiple sources without a remeshing process to combine the heterogeneous data of the different models. At the same time, the original data sets are preserved without modification, and, thus, TIN meshes can be easily edited and replaced, among other features. Specifically, our approach is based on the utilization of the external edges of convexified TINs as the fundamental primitive to tessellate the space between both types of meshes. Our proposal is eminently parallel, requires only a minimal preprocessing phase, and minimizes the storage requirements when compared with the previous proposals.     

广义地名及其本体研究

提出广义地名的概念(指可以与地球表面特定位置或范围相关联的一段文本),基于广义地名组织的文本形式的空间信息通常更符合人们对于地理空间知识的表达。探讨广义地名的本体,并给出相应的概念模型和逻辑模型,从而有助于广义地名数据库以及智能化广义地名服务的实现。该研究主要从广义地名的发生学、描述对象、地理范围、信息团体和语境引起的二义性等方面描述广义地名本体,并用UML语言建立便于在信息系统中实现的逻辑模型。     

起伏地形下黄河流域太阳直接辐射分布式模式

基于数字高程模型(DEM)数据和气象站观测资料建立了起伏地形下太阳直接辐射分布式计算模型,模型充分考虑了地形因子(坡向、坡度、地形相互遮蔽)对起伏地形下太阳直接辐射空间分布的影响;以1km×1km分辨率的DEM数据作为地形的综合反映,计算了起伏地形下黄河流域1km×1km分辨率太阳直接辐射的空间分布;深入分析了起伏地形下太阳直接辐射受地理、地形因子影响的变化规律.结果表明受地形起伏和坡向、坡度等局地地形因子的影响,山区年太阳直接辐射量的空间差异比较明显,向阳山坡(偏南坡)的年直接辐射量明显高于背阴山坡(偏北坡).     

The reduction of aliasing in gravity anomalies and geoid heights using digital terrain data

Observations of gravity can be aliased by virtue of the logistics involved in collecting these data in the field. For instance, gravity measurements are often made in more accessible lowland areas where there are roads and tracks, thus omitting areas of higher relief in between. The gravimetric determination of the geoid requires mean terrain-corrected free-air anomalies; however, anomalies based only on the observations in lowland regions are not necessarily representative of the true mean value over the topography. A five-stage approach is taken that uses a digital elevation model, which provides a more accurate representation of the topography than the gravity observation elevations, to reduce the unrepresentative sampling in the gravity observations. When using this approach with the Australian digital elevation model, the terrain-corrected free-air anomalies generated from the Australian gravity data base change by between 77.075 and −84.335 mgal (−0.193 mgal mean and 2.687 mgal standard deviation). Subsequent gravimetric geoid computations are used to illustrate the effect of aliasing in the Australian gravity data upon the geoid. The difference between 'aliased' and 'non-aliased' gravimetric geoid solutions varies by between 0.732 and −1.816 m (−0.058 m mean and 0.122 m standard deviation). Based on these conceptual arguments and numerical results, it is recommended that supplementary digital elevation information be included during the estimation of mean gravity anomalies prior to the computation of a gravimetric geoid model.     

起伏地形下黄河流域太阳直接辐射分布式模拟

1 Introduction Directsolarradiation (DSR)isthe key com ponentofthe globalradiation reaching the Earth.For the influence of terrain factors,calculation of DSR quantity of rugged terrain is considerably com plex (Oliphantetal.,2003). The solarradiation quan…     

Uncertainty modeling and analysis of surface area calculation based on a regular grid digital elevation model (DEM)

In the field of digital terrain analysis (DTA), the principle and method of uncertainty in surface area calculation (SAC) have not been deeply developed and need to be further studied. This paper considers the uncertainty of data sources from the digital elevation model (DEM) and SAC in DTA to perform the following investigations: (a) truncation error (TE) modeling and analysis, (b) modeling and analysis of SAC propagation error (PE) by using Monte-Carlo simulation techniques and spatial autocorrelation error to simulate DEM uncertainty. The simulation experiments show that (a) without the introduction of the DEM error, higher DEM resolution and lower terrain complexity lead to smaller TE and absolute error (AE); (b) with the introduction of the DEM error, the DEM resolution and terrain complexity influence the AE and standard deviation (SD) of the SAC, but the trends by which the two values change may be not consistent; and (c) the spatial distribution of the introduced random error determines the size and degree of the deviation between the calculated result and the true value of the surface area. This study provides insights regarding the principle and method of uncertainty in SACs in geographic information science (GIScience) and provides guidance to quantify SAC uncertainty.     

数字地球的时空维实现

在全球变化研究和持续发展战略推动下形成的地理信息科学是数字地球的科学技术基础,而数字地球也为地理信息科学的发展提供了源动力。数字地球将深刻改变人类的政治、经济和科技格局。现在还不能给数字地球一个明确的定义,但可以认为数字地球的核心是一个分布式、多尺度、多维的地理信息系统。TGIS研究是实现数字地球的关键技术之一。目前可以本着综合型和分解型两种思路对TGIS进行平行探索。